Improve Relationships With This Collection of Resources

It's Valentine's day, and many people would like to improve their relationships, romantic or platonic. Here are some resources to help you in this area of life.

Photo by Kevin Delvecchio on Unsplash

How Do I Know When I've Met “The One”?

Three months after I met my wife, we were married. We've been together for seven years now, and I couldn't be happier with that decision. While many may consider it a reckless decision, I had actually done a ton of research into what makes for a healthy long term relationship, and this article dives into many of the factors that come into play. Click here to read this article.

ScreamFree Marriage: Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer by Hal and Jenny Runkel

You may not actually be screaming at your partner, but are you a little frustrated with how things are going? Screaming takes many forms, including silence when things get rough. Maybe you have a great relationship, but want it to be even better. Written by a world-renowned expert on helping families resolve conflict and create healthy relationships, this book is the place to start to grow your marriage. Even if you are not married, you'll learn ways of responding to others so that your relationship grows deeper and your conflicts become manageable. Click here to order through Amazon.

ScreamFree Parenting: The Revolutionary Approach to Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool by Hal Runkel

ScreamFree and Parenting don't go together in the same sentence, do they? With 5 kids myself, I can tell you that while you will likely still pull your hair out at times, this book will make a significant impact on your family. This isn't just about lowering your voice, it gives practical advice on how to control your own emotional reactions and respond effectively so that you and your kids will have a better relationship. Take charge of your family confidently and lead well with the wisdom captured in this book, you and your kids will be thankful you read this! Click here to order through Amazon.

The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M. R. Covey and Stephen R. Covey

Trust, you either have it or you don't, right? This book challenges that assumption by giving practical advice on how to rapidly build and rebuild trust. After reading this book, I realized it described exactly what I couldn't put into words about what the people I trust did. If you have complete faith in those around you, things will happen at lightning speed, especially in business. Learn how to foster that by reading this excellent book! Click here to order through Amazon.

Getting Ready for Marriage: How to Really Get to Know the Person You're Going to Marry by Jerry Hardin and Dianne Sloan

How do you know if your partner is really the right fit? My wife and I used this intensive workbook to make sure we were on the right track before we got married. You and your partner will be asked hard questions you've never even thought of, and be able to work through scenarios before they happen to make sure you are on the same page. Why wouldn't you invest some time into this before committing to spending the rest of your life with someone? This book brought us much closer together and made it evident that we were making the right choice. Click here to order through Amazon.

Click: The Magic of Instant Connections by Ori and Ron Brafman

You know the feeling. You meet someone, and the two of you just instantly “Click.” How does that happen? This fascinating piece of work digs into the factors that go into this magical feeling and gives practical advice on how to give yourself the best chances of making it happen regularly. Click here to order through Amazon.

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

For more than 60 years this book has topped the charts. Number one for a reason, the title says it all. Business or personal relationships, this should be a required read for everyone in my opinion! Click here to order on Amazon.

The Smart Stepdad or Stepmom

Stepfamilies have a lot of additional pressures on them that regular families do not. The smart stepdad helped me a lot as I navigated combining my three children with my wife's two children when we got married. There's also a version for mom, The Smart Stepmom. If this is your situation, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book. Click here to order on Amazon.

I hope this helps point you in the right direction!