8 things I want you to know about betrayal and repair Is it possible for a relationship to come back from the brink after a profound breach of trust? Can we survive a betrayal and find our way back to one another? By betrayal, I mean any action—large or small—that chips away at the sense of certainty between us. Brené Brown describes trust as built on reliability and consistency over time, and in seasons of uncertainty, we long more than ever for something we can count on. "Trust is choosing...

Couples do not need to repair every conflict in three minutes to have a lasting relationship—but learning how to come back to each other, with less delay and more kindness, can transform the way love feels over time.​ The Myth of the 3-Minute Repair Not long ago, an Instagram post stopped me mid-scroll. It claimed couples together for 30-plus years stay strong by returning to repair within three minutes of a rupture—apparently backed by research from Switzerland, Canada, and Harvard. Three...

What Imago Taught Me About Real Connection For 25 years, I was married to an active alcoholic. I spent so many nights believing that if I just found the right words, used the gentle tone, picked the perfect moment, or was the most understanding partner ever—he’d finally choose us over drinking. I tried everything. It took me a long time to understand that alcoholism is a disease. And that no amount of love, logic, or careful communication could fix it. When the marriage ended, I promised...