Dealing with Relationship Ruts

We are a society addicted to adrenaline. We associate excitement with instant gratification, success with final measurable outcomes. We expect or at the very least want to feel good all the time. These messages are reinforced with commercials, marketing and sales strategies, and images that we are bombarded with day in and day out. Our relationships are not immune to the pressures of instant gratification. If we find ourselves bored or dissatisfied we immediately go to “something is wrong”—wrong with us, our lives, our mates, or the world. We have a hard time looking at the big picture. Instead we focus on the circumstances at hand and react accordingly. To illustrate my point, let’s hear Bill and Brenda’s story.

Joke Anyone?

Think about the last time you had a good laugh. I mean one of those belly laughs that left your tummy sore and bladder weak. The kind of laughing spell that felt out of your control but in the end left you feeling good and satisfied. Laughter is one of the best feel-good drugs around. It raises your endorphins, releases stress, and creates a healthy connection to those with whom you have shared the moment. Laughter is free, non-addictive, and promotes physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. It’s one of the best things we have going and it is completely and utterly underutilized.