Did you know there are 43 muscles in our face, some of which we use when we smile? Our smile conveys our mood and our disposition. It also relates to others our general attitude about life. Whether we view the glass as half-full or half-empty can...
Dear Dr. Bill, I live in an emotionally abusive marriage. My husband is often angry, manipulative, critical, controlling and sarcastic. No matter what goes wrong, he blames me. I am sad and miserable and simply can’t take it anymore. Once I understood that I was a...
Loving Complaints Require Self Examination Step One: What is your motivation? It's hard to be honest about this one. Often, our primary goal is to let our spouse know how wrong they were. We’ve been hurt and simply want to issue a strong reprimand. We give them some of...
Loving Complaints Require Self Examination Step Two: Own Your Part. Ask yourself what was going on in you when the incident occurred. Are you sensitive to embarrassment or criticism? Do you care too much what others think? Are you defensive? Look forthe part in you that made this...
Loving Complaints Require Self Examination Step Three: Speak the Truth in Love. This is not easy and is almost impossible while you are angry. Cool off. Wait an hour or longer. You must have a soft start. Don’t begin with an harsh language. “I need to tell...
Dear Dr. Bill, My cousin has been married 15 years and has two children. Her career has required several moves that have been hard for her husband. She says “We don’t talk” and feels sad they “aren’t lovers anymore”. Her husband doesn’t have time for counseling...
Dear Dr. Bill, I cannot believe I am writing this letter. Two weeks ago, I discovered suspicious looking e-mails written by my wife to a man at her work. What I found were dozens and dozens of love letters, many containing very explicit sexual content. Yes,...
Dear Dr. Bill, I’ve been reading your columns and have just one question. What planet do you live on? I can’t believe your Pollyannaish advice is very helpful in the real world. In my world, my husband is cold and distant and often blaming me for...
Several years ago, I heard someone say, “Values are caught, not taught.” At first, this sounded counterintuitive and completely wrong. Seriously, I thought, values are so important and significant in the life of any family, any organization, and to any group, how could they be...
I recently finished the book "Never Let you Go" by Erin Healy. I am guessing it is what someone would call "Christian Fiction." The book was definitely a page turner and it kept me hooked until the end. That did not really surprise me, as...