All Entries in the "Communication" Category

Ancient Archetypes of Mars & Venus

Men and women can be so completely opposite sometimes in how they think, act and communicate. They might as well be from different planets! We’ve all heard the old saying, Women are from Venus. Men are from Mars. Well there is a lot more to that aphorism that dates back several centuries – not suggesting that we come from other planets, rather our universal gender traits stem from ancient archetypes from Greek mythology; the goddess Venus and the god Mars.

Actually his name was Ares, god of War in Greek Mythology. His Roman name was Mars, in which the planet was named after since the fourth planet shines with a red color, resembling blood. Ares, god of war, represented brutal force, as he enjoyed the battles and the bloodshed and he didn’t really care about fighting for a good cause – and he wasn’t always the winner. He is characterized as the god who took a savage delight in slaughter, and the hordes of slain upon the battlefield filled him with a fierce joy. Even being rough and aggressive, he was quite handsome and had many love affairs with goddesses or with mortals. Ares most famous love was Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, (also known as Venus).

Fighting Fair ~ Sustaining Relationships Through Conflict

Contrast and conflict is an inevitable part of a personal relationship, but it need not be malicious or agonizing. In fact, we all have within us the ability to sustain relationships, even when we deeply disagree. When we reach our breaking point (as we all do), and need to walk away, we can do so in ways that make it more likely that we will come back together.

Initially, the best thing to do is distance yourself from the situation and take some time to cool off. It’s best to take a walk or go for a drive alone to reflect and consider all perspectives of the argument. Search within to find common ground for compromise or forgiveness. A brief ‘time out’ can be greatly beneficial, as long as it is intended for you both to regain clarity and composure.

Fighting fair has obvious ethical guidelines such as having respect for the other person’s dignity. The one whom you are in conflict with should never lose their value as a human being. No matter how right you think you are and how wrong they may be, don’t deny their dignity; you will do more harm than good. Keep your drama private and stay away from name calling or publicly condemning one another, especially on social media sites. It is truly indecent and disgraceful to attack another person or broadcast your disapproval on the internet, as it may permanently damage their character as well as your own. Avoid involving others, as it can get messy and confusing when you complain to someone who may distort the situation with their limited awareness and biased opinions. Also consider how arguments may affect those around you, especially children, extended family and mutual friends.

Communication Skills to Improve Relationships

If part of your New Year’s resolution is to improve your relationship and enjoy better sex, then listen up! Intention is certainly the first step; however it will also take thoughtfulness, preparedness and action to make any drastic improvements. In the following article, there are 7 Great Tips for Improving Your Sex Life – so hopefully that will be helpful in that department. Let’s focus more now on improving your personal relationships with the way we communicate with others.

Whether you’ve been in a 20-year marriage or are with a new potential lover, basic communication skills are beneficial in all types of relationships. One of the most important facets of communicating is to listen, and to be fully present to what is being shared. Most people feel empowered and appreciated when another person is genuinely interested in what they have to say. It is courteous and respectful to give your full attention when someone is talking. Allow them to finish their sentence or thought stream without interruption until they break for you to sensitively respond. Be attentive to their wants and needs, as well as their fears or concerns.

The Magic Spark of Attraction and How Couples Come To Be

The question “How did you meet your life-partner?” is one I love to ask couples – especially if they’ve been together for a long while. Most often they light up when recounting their nostalgic reminiscence of how their companionship came to be. It is interesting to listen to various personal recollections of what particular steps led to the momentous encounter. I find it fascinating to think about all the choices we make in life that lead us to the next significant experience, meaningful friendship or romantic relationship. If one little detail would have gone differently, then an entire family tree would have never grown into fruition.

When couples muse over their initial point convergence and courtship, it may help reignite the magical spark that brought them together. They fondly remember the strong attraction they had for one another and the passion they felt during the time when they were first falling in love. It can be one of the most magnificent phases in our entire life, as there’s nothing more extraordinary than being in love. And what’s even more incredible, is when someone reciprocates that emotion and adoringly loves you back just the same. It can feel overwhelmingly intense when two people fall in love, as it is noticeably evident when they radiate joy and bliss whenever they’re together or even thinking about one another. The trick is to keep that passion alive.

Balancing Healthy Relationships with Various Men in Our Life

Women enjoy a variety of qualities from many different men in their lives. We can still enjoy and honor a monogamous relationship; however one man is sometimes not enough to fulfill a woman’s many needs. We are extremely social creatures and experience unique connections with most everyone we meet. In being ultra sensitive and highly intuitive, most women are naturally compassionate and enjoy nurturing others. Our inherent maternal instincts compel us to console and comfort our family and friends including plenty of men who are organically drawn to our kindhearted nature.

It can sometimes make our chosen life-partner a bit anxious, as we social butterflies enjoy sharing our inner and outer beauty, love and consideration with others. Our partners need to understand that this is who we are, and we enjoy diverse social connections to satisfy our numerous feminine aspects. It is important to be respectful with our significant others, as well as be true to ourselves within our various relationships. Our lover may fulfill certain needs with close intimate contact; however he may not be great at offering all emotional support that women crave. Sometimes we look to our family and close friends to share our personal issues and certain subject matter.

Maintaining Peace & Happiness in Your Relationship During the Holidays

It all seems so cliché… Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy New Year… blah, blah, blah. For the majority of Americans, the holidays have become more about consumerism and expectations of material reward than realizing the true spirit of what the holidays may represent in our hearts and souls. Many of us seem to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, sales and all the latest and greatest gadgets that the retail market has to offer. It’s all good if you can afford to fulfill everything on your loved one’s gift lists. It can also be a wonderful time for family get-togethers, parties, traditions, customs, etc. Yet it can certainly take a toll on our personal relationships with all the added stress and pressure. The obligations of gift-giving and demands from our friends and families can greatly affect our mental, emotional and physical health.

During the holidays, we may feel torn with dividing time between families – especially if we are in a partnership and have different ideas on where to travel to, or who to invite over for dinner. Extended family dynamics can be trying on your relationship, as everyone brings their own set of values, expectations and unique personalities to the table. The more we stress out over all the little details and judge how others choose to live their lives, then the more negative energy we contribute to the mix. We can enjoy and celebrate diversity in honoring one another’s beliefs and practices. When we can let go of our expectations and trust that all is well no matter who or what shows up in our reality, then we are able to relax and enjoy whatever life offers.

Weekend Forecast; Wet or Dry?

A woman’s body can be just as unpredictable as the weather. When it comes to preparing for sexual activity, sometimes women can become naturally lubricated fairly easy – other times it can be quite difficult. It is important to engage in plenty of foreplay to encourage emotional connection and physical arousal. However, there may be times when a woman remains uncomfortably dry despite the best efforts of her partner to stimulate the receptive area. It can be embarrassing, inconvenient, and even painful if you don’t have a ‘back-up’ personal lubricant handy. Using a lubrication product can be fun and stimulating, especially when you introduce it into your foreplay. You’ll enjoy applying it on one another, adding a slippery pleasurable prelude to intercourse.

What causes a woman to produce natural lubrication at certain times and not others? We women know that during our ‘younger’ years, vaginal dryness is generally not a problem. When we become sexually aroused, our natural lubrication increases significantly in preparation for easy penetration. Located just inside the vaginal opening are numerous glands within the labia minora, or inner lips, which secrete these lubricating fluids. This is a very sensitive area with high concentrations of blood vessels and nerve endings. Deeper inside the vaginal canal are the microscopic Bartholin’s glands which also release lubricating fluids. Approximately two weeks after menstruation, production of these fluids normally increases with a noticeable discharge from the cervix. This produces a mucous during ovulation to support potential conception.

The Power of Pheromones

Is initial attraction and sexual arousal really only skin deep? Beyond visual appeal, there’s a subconscious scientific magnetism happening that may affect the physical desirability of those around us. Whether we realize it or not, most women and men are deeply affected by the natural pheromones that we are constantly emitting. Just follow your nose – it always knows!

Of course body odor can be terribly offensive at times, so we should do our best to maintain good hygiene. But, rather than trying to cover up our natural scent with heavy perfumes and artificial fragrances, we should allow our organic aroma to capture the attention of our mate or potential lover. Our natural pheromones can be an extremely powerful way to attract a partner or stimulate sexual arousal with your significant other. We use most or all of our senses when we are evaluating a person or situation, and believe it or not, our sense of smell is exceptionally influential in our reasoning processes. The scent our bodies emit can either be totally repulsive or extremely appealing, and may drastically vary in preference depending on the individual.

What Women Should Know About Men

The main difference with regard to emotions between men and women in relationships is in the way we communicate our feelings, wants and needs. I’ve certainly noticed from personal experience, as well as from numerous couples that sometimes men have a very difficult time communicating how they feel. This would seem to indicate emotional disconnect for men. However, in the truth, men indeed have deep feelings and very strong emotions – they just have a different way of expressing them.

Men generally like to try and fix things, as it’s in their nature to want to solve problems. They are typically more analytical and methodical than women. The diagnostic mechanism that operates men’s reason and logic is mainly based on factual data and real evidence. Perhaps that’s why they tend to be more skeptical and cynical at times. The emotional intelligence of men seems to be an underlying thematic issue in many relationships.

Sensual Massage for Him

Sensual massage is an excellent way to enhance sexual arousal and erotic pleasure. It can be a very enjoyable part of lovemaking as a way to intimately connect and lead into more in-depth foreplay. Massage may be utilized as a sexual therapy, that is, as a means of stimulating the libido – getting you both in the mood and familiar with one another’s bodies and areas of sensitivity. It can also help men address issues of premature ejaculation, as he is able to relax the musculature of his pelvis and thus prolong arousal and extend his ability to enjoy physical pleasure without the impulse to climax too soon. Setting the tone with a romantic ambiance may be a good idea, choosing soft sexy music, lighting candles and incense.