by Joshua Hook | Oct 13, 2019 | Relationships
There’s a simple question I have started to ask people in my life, and it’s been very helpful for my relationships. Here’s the question: Do you want help or feedback? The Fixer In life, my tendency is to be a fixer. It’s just how I’m wired. When someone tells me about...
by Joshua Hook | Jun 19, 2019 | Relationships
Sometimes people ask me about dating, specifically about what they should look for in a potential partner. I always start with the acknowledgement that I struggled with dating for years and made lots of mistakes. It’s tough out there! Connect on Several Things But one...
by Joshua Hook | Feb 10, 2019 | Relationships
Tim Ferriss was talking with professional volleyball player Gabby Reece on his podcast, and she mentioned a principle she tries to live by in her daily life: Be the one to go first. What does she mean by this? If Gabby passes someone as she is walking, she will be the...
by Joshua Hook | Feb 7, 2019 | Relationships
Sometimes I get frustrated when my needs aren’t met in a relationship. “What’s wrong?” I ask myself. “Why doesn’t my partner understand what I need?” “If she really loved me, she would do [fill in the blank].” If you are anything like me, maybe you have struggled with...
by Joshua Hook | Jan 20, 2019 | Relationships
My wife and I had another couple over for dinner not too long ago, and we had a great time. It was someone I had met at church. I didn’t know them very well. But we had a good conversation at church, and I thought they might have “friend potential.” So, I reached out...
by Joshua Hook | Apr 30, 2018 | Relationships
Couples have a difficult time dealing with disagreement and conflict. Think about your own relationship. What happens when you disagree about something? Are you able to listen to one another, empathize, understand the other person’s perspective, and work toward a...
by Joshua Hook | Apr 6, 2018 | Relationships
Recently I wrote a blog post about John Gottman and the 5:1 rule. The take-home message was this: successful marriage or dating relationships had a ratio of at least 5 positive interactions for each negative interaction. 5:1 is Hard Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to...
by Joshua Hook | Mar 19, 2018 | Relationships
Sometimes making friends can be difficult, especially if you have recently moved to a new place. It might feel like everyone else is already connected, and you’re all alone. It can be challenging to know where to start when trying to develop your community. This can...
by Joshua Hook | Mar 11, 2018 | Humility, Relationships
This post is Part 9 in a 12-part blog series on humility and growth. (If you missed the first post, you can find it here.) Relationships are hard. I mentioned this to my wife as we were talking through some tough things the other day. We have a good relationship, but...
by Joshua Hook | Feb 13, 2018 | Relationships
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I want to talk to you about a simple rule that can help you have a better marriage or dating relationship. But before I tell you the rule, I want to share a bit about how it came about. John Gottman and the Love Lab A professor named...
