The Best Articles in Relationships
The most useful articles and videos in Relationships from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Relationships Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved in Relationships by Refind users.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
The best way to apologize (according to science)
Explore what to do— and not to do— in order to deliver an authentic apology and make amends in a variety of situations.--Over the years, people have come up ...
Why you should live an argumentative life
Our impulse to seek out agreement is stifling us, says world debate champion Bo Seo.Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQE...
The surprising reason secrets destroy us
Pressure bursts pipes. Keeping a secret can do the same to your mind, explains Michael Slepian. Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/c...
Dan Harris: The benefits of not being a jerk to yourself
After more than two decades as an anchor for ABC News, an on-air panic attack sent Dan Harris's life in a new direction: he became a dedicated meditator and, to some, even a guru. But then an…
3 steps to having difficult conversations
What’s your elephant in the room? Every group — whether it’s a family or a team in the workplace — has one: an uncomfortable, complicated or charged conversation that hasn’t happened but needs to. …
What is ...?
New to Relationships? These articles make an excellent introduction.
What Is Love?
No, seriously. What does it mean to be in love?
«Love == intimacy + passion+ commitment»
How to ...?
How To Meet Each of the 3 Sets of Needs In a Relationship
There are three sets of needs in a relationship, but they can't all be reached at once. Here, get a framework for how to prioritize them.
«many of the people I work with actually need to become needier in order to feel healthy and have more fulfilling lives. Both having needs and being needed by others are completely normal states of being»
How to have better arguments
Arguing well isn’t just about winning. A philosophical approach will help you and the other person get much more out of it
«the one who loses in a philosophical dispute gains more the more he learns»
How to Make New Friends Whether You’re an Introvert or Extrovert
Two friendship coaches break down myths about personality types and let us in on how to take part in new social situations with deeper connections — and less anxiety.
«What most people don’t know about extroverts is that although they are often the life of the party and approach new people and conversations with ease, they can end up feeling less connected and unsatisfied because their connections reach wide but not as deep.»
How to handle a lopsided friendship
If you think a pal is way less (or way more) invested than you are, here’s what to do.
«A lopsided friendship happens when one friend is more active in maintaining contact and the other friend is more passive about keeping the connection going»
How to Embrace, Not Fear, Being Alone
Are you afraid of being alone? Well, you’re not alone in that. In a 2014 survey of 2,000 adults, one in three said they fear being alone: 40% of women and 35% of men. Ironically, the more we subvert…
«the capacity to be alone probably makes your interactions with others richer. Because you’re bringing to the relationship a person who’s actually got stuff going on inside and isn’t just a connector circuit that only thrives off of others.»
Trending
These links are currently making the rounds in Relationships on Refind.
My 8 Best Techniques for Evaluating Character
These methods have helped me enormously—and can save you much heartache and anxiety
Talking Less Will Get You More
Overtalkers are everywhere, but there are benefits to keeping your mouth shut
How to Express Your Feelings: 7 Tips
Learning how to express your feelings can make it easier to feel better and get the support you need. Use these 7 tips to boost your mood faster.
7 Unexpected Tips We Learned From Relationship Therapists This Year for Boosting Connection and Intimacy
Here are the creative expert tips that really stuck with us from all our relationships content in 2022.
Want to live a happy life? Focus on your relationships
Harvard psychiatrist Robert Waldinger discusses how 80 years of research show relationships to be a critical part of a happy life.
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles in Relationships—all under 10 minutes.
Interesting People: 7 Things They All Have In Common
What can we learn from experts and scientific research about how to be more interesting? Here's what the most interesting people all have in common.
«The Longevity Project, which studied over 1000 people from youth to death had this to say: The groups you associate with often determine the type of person you become.»
A Healthy Social Life Goes Beyond Friends and Family
When we have a variety of social interactions—with not just intimates, but acquaintances and strangers—we may be happier and healthier for it.
«She suggests reaching out to old friends, joining a class, having an extra meeting with a colleague to touch base, or chatting with the grocery store cashier»
If You’re Lonely, Balancing Your ‘Social Nutrition’ Could Help
Being more intentional with our social interactions can improve our well-being and help stave off emotional burnout.
«Additional research has found that loneliness can have the same physical impact as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, physical inactivity, and air pollution.»
11 Important Things I’ve Learned in 11 Years of Marriage
By no means do we have the perfect marriage, but I've recognized a few critical areas needed to build a solid and lasting union as a couple.
«Avoid running to your parents or best friend to complain about trivial matters.»
Learning from people who I disagree with
Why talking with people whose views you hate can help you (and, maybe, them)
«omber. He had done a fair bit of research and made some initial contacts with the men who could arrange his travel and equipment. He was deciding between his options: sneak over th»
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles in Relationships.
Here’s How Quitting Can be Your Competitive Advantage
Whether it's a job, an investment, or a relationship, you should have "kill criteria" before you even start.
«I bought it at $50 and I don’t want to sell it at $40, because I want to get my $10 back.»
Rethinking Authenticity
It is not a destination. It’s our ongoing life’s work as responsible adults.
Post 43: Intentionally Making Close Friends
One of the most valuable experiments I ever ran was intentionally practicing the skill of making close friends, and this directly led to most of my friends today. This post is the story of that…
«My close friendships are one of the most important components of my life happiness. Leaving it up to chance feels like passing up an incredible opportunity.»
Good Grief
Fortunate is the person who has reached the age of 50 without having had to grieve. To be among the grieving, the bereaved, is an experience most of us go through, excepting only those who die…
This Is How To Get People To Change: 5 Secrets From Research
How do you get people to change? We usually go about it all wrong. Here's what the science says can help you persuade others...
«Evoke the reasons for change that are already in their head and support those. This is what motivates people to make a shift without resistance.»
Thought Leaders
We monitor hundreds of thought leaders, influencers, and newsletters in Relationships, including:
Mark Manson
3x #1 NYTimes bestselling author. Best known for F-Bombs and uncomfortable truths. Giving life advice that doesn't suck since 2008.
Tim Urban
Writer, infant
Aeon+Psyche
Aeon is a magazine of ideas and culture. Psyche is our sister magazine focused on the human condition. Visit http://aeon.co and http://psyche.co for more.

Priya Parker
Facilitator • Author, THE ART OF GATHERING from @RiverheadBooks • Host & EP, TOGETHER APART @nytimes podcast • Mrs. @AnandWrites. Follow me on IG.

Irene Caselli
✍️🏻The First 1,000 Days newsletter on children & carers | SoJo | Advisor @DartCenter | @newmarkjschool 21 | Feminist mama | Journo past @BBCWorld @The_Corres
Publications
We monitor hundreds of publications, blogs, newsletters, and news sources in Relationships, including:
Aeon+Psyche
Aeon is a magazine of ideas and culture. Psyche is our sister magazine focused on the human condition. Visit http://aeon.co and http://psyche.co for more.
The School of Life
Ideas to help you learn, heal and grow. Subscribe here: http://theschooloflife.com/app/
Tiny Buddha
Get Tiny Buddha’s Inner Strength Journal: Creative Prompts & Challenges to Help You Get Through Anything: http://bit.ly/3amsm5Q
Big Think
Learn from the world’s greatest thinkers. Join us on https://www.youtube.com/c/bigthink.
SELF
Wellness you can trust. #TeamSELF
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We monitor hundreds of sources in Relationships, including Aeon+Psyche, The School of Life, Tiny Buddha, Big Think, SELF, and many more.
Who are the thought leaders in Relationships?
We follow dozens of thought leaders in Relationships, including Mark Manson, Tim Urban, Aeon+Psyche, Priya Parker, Irene Caselli.
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