Joy feelings magazine September 2019 Issue | Page 18

everything better in life — your career, your social life, and, yep, your
relationship. Professor Barbara Fredrickson, a social psychologist from
the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, has found that positive
thinking can even change the rhythmic beating of your heart. Whoa!
Argue in a healthy way
Studies show that couples with poor communication skills are among
the most unhappy people on the planet. No surprise there, though.
Every single couple fights, so don’t feel bad if you fall into that
category. It’s not about how often you argue, but how you do it that
really affects your relationship.
Don’t fight about money
This is a tough one, because money issues are the number one reason
couples break up. There will always be some differences in the way you
handle money, how much money you make, how much money you
save, etc. However, try to solve the problems at hand instead of blow up
in each others’ faces about it. Don’t fall into self-righteousness, and try
to see what money signifies for your SO, rather than focusing on the
money itself.
Say words of encouragement to each other
By evoking phrases like “Great job!” and “I’m so proud of you,” couples
increase their happiness levels and report feeling less depressed. All it