1. Measuring the Strength of Your Relationship Ask yourself he following questions, which marriage researcher John Gottman (Gottman & Silver, 2000;

Kantowitz & Wingert, 1999) uses to gauge the strength of relationships, based on his assumption that in strong relationships, partners know each other well and share a deep understanding of the other’s life, feelings, thoughts, and perceptions.

• I can name my partner’s best friends.

• I can tell you what stresses my partner is currently facing.

• I know the names of some of the people who have been irritating my partner lately.

• I can tell you some of my partner’s life dreams.

• I can list the relatives my partner likes least.

• At the end of the day, my partner is glad to see me.

• My partner is one of my best friends.

• We just love to talk to each other.

• I feel that my partner knows me pretty well.

• My partner appreciates the things I do in this relationship.