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Surely one of the most difficult traits to surmount is a passive/aggressive personality.  Relationships require trust and honest communication to flourish. A passive aggressive partner presents a difficult challenge because avoidance is coupled with trust violating aggression.  In this episode, Alvean and Doug discuss this trait and offer insights as to how best to cope when your partner acts in a passive aggressive manner.  For a complete transcript, click here:68-The Passive-Aggressive Partner

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Among the many forces which can strengthen or torpedo a relationship, social media looms large as a potentially dynamic or destructive mechanism.  In this episode, Alvean and Doug explore the ways in which social media can act as an amplifier or as a censor–instantiating not only your own feelings but those of others around you.  For a full transcript of the episode, click here: 64-Relationships and Social Media

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It’s been said that parenthood is the last of the unskilled occupations.  In truth, we are almost always unprepared for parenthood and the many changes it makes in the way we live, and in our relationships. In this episode, Alvean and Doug discuss many of this issues and help newly expecting parents or even those who are just thinking about having children to better prepare themselves for what may come.  For a complete transcript, click here: 65-Parenthood

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That important moment where one of you moves in with the other can be a wonderful next step in your relationship or lead to difficulties down the road–even your eventual break up.  Knowing how and when to make that move is critical.  In this episode, Alvean and Doug explore the ways you can ensure a smooth transition and how to avoid the pitfalls of living with another person–even and especially one you love. For a full transcript, click here:  63-Moving In Together

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Perhaps you have heard about love languages before.  In case you haven’t it is a way of characterizing the ways in which we express our feelings for another and how they show theirs to us.  Are you someone that delights in doing nice things for your SO, or do you prefer tangible gifts?  Alvean and Doug talk about the various ways in which we express our love and how to help align with your mate’s love language. For more and a full transcript:66-The Love Languages click here:

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Alvean and Doug take on a difficult topic–identifying traits that may make you an enabler of others’ bad behaviors or habits.  It can be hard to tell the difference between tolerating and enabling, between acceptance and furtherance.  For more about this episode, click here: 67-Are you an Enabler?

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Most of us have a preconceived idea of what kind of person would be our ideal mate–but often we settle for someone quite different.  Are our projections unrealistic or do we find that what we thought might be essential isn’t really that important?  To find answers to these and other questions about realtionships listen to this episode of LoveLife or read the attached transcript: LL62-Your ideal mate

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In this episode, Alvean and Doug explore the meaning of true friendship.  Are friends always honest with one another, and, if so, how does one navigate hurt feelings?  Do friends allow themselves to get involved in other relationships?  Are friends allowed to be jealous?   Answers to these and other questions can be found in this transcript:  LL61-Are you a good friend?  and in the following episode

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In this frank episode, Alvean and Doug talk about intimacy, what it is, how to achieve it and how to avoid the mis-steps that can lead to heartbreak.  For a complete transcript, click here: LL60-What is Intimacy

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For those who have experienced a true and lasting love, what are the lessons from which we can all learn?  Alvean and Doug talk about their own experience and those of listeners in this moving episode.  For a full transcript, click here: LL59-What has true love taught you?