Relationship Tune-Up - Part 2

December 3, 2009

Interview with Dr. Terri Orbuch, author of the book 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great

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Mike Carruthers:
Anyone in a long-term marriage or relationship knows that over time excitement and passion decline.

Dr. Terri Orbuch:
What I encourage couples to do is add newness. We know that passion and spice is fueled by new activities and surprise.

Dr. Terri Orbuch, author of the book 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great…

Take a class together; try a new activity that you’ve never done together. For example go on a roller coaster ride, even seeing a movie that’s really scary – all of those activities produce arousal – you can actually transfer the arousal to your relationship.

And little surprises can have a magical effect.

Take them for a treasure hunt and end up at your favorite restaurant. Post cards or little notes around the house or in your partner’s lunch. Anything that produces surprise will add that spice.

Frustration, says Terri, is a common problem in relationships.

And frustration is the gap or the difference between what you want to happen in your relationship and what actually does. So what I encourage couples to do is tell their partner what they expect out of the relationship.

 For Part 1, click here

To hear the complete unedited interview, click here