Relationships
Relationships have a special kind of way of bringing up unexpected emotions and reactions within us. So much so that it can be hard to make sense of what’s going on while an interaction happens, and also to understand why things tend to escalate the way they do.
You might find yourself shutting down whenever someone gets upset, overthinking the slightest change in a person’s tone, or ending up in the same kinds of arguments over and over again, without knowing why.
The articles in this section will help you understand what’s taking place inside both of you during these types of interactions, why these negative patterns keep repeating, and what you can do to get past them.
Where to start if you’re new to this work
If you’re not sure where to start, choose whichever of the four articles below sounds most relevant to you. I’ve put these ones first because they cover some of the main ways relationship patterns tend to show up during conflict and communication, including shutting down, struggling to talk about how you feel, being misunderstood, and arguments that keep escalating.
Start with these articles:

Why Small Things Turn Into Big Arguments
Not all arguments start because someone said something hurtful. They often start from something small. So small that if someone on the outside were watching the…
Read this article
Why You Shut Down When Someone’s Mad at You
You know that moment when someone’s upset with you, and even though you’re trying to listen, your brain just kind of… stops working? Like, say you’re…
Read this article
Why Talking About Your Feelings Turns Into an Argument
You can put so much thought into how you bring something up. You can choose your words carefully, explain every detail, and work hard to be…
Read this article
Why Everything You Say Seems to Come Across Wrong
Sometimes a sentence can sound great while it's in your head, but then it reaches someone else, and it lands completely differently. You notice the disconnect…
Read this articleMore Relationship Articles:
Why You Care So Much About What Other People Think
If you care too much what other people think, you already know how exhausting it can be. It can influence […]
Read this article
Why You Can’t Be Yourself Around Certain People
Have you ever noticed how around some people you can be yourself, but around others, you feel like you can’t? […]
Read this article
Why You Feel Emotionally Drained After Being Around Certain People
Have you ever noticed how some people leave you feeling energized after spending time with them, while others leave you […]
Read this article
Receive new articles before they’re published here
Join my newsletter, The Aligned Mind, and get each new article sent directly to your inbox before it’s published on my website.



