Why do some days disappear without leaving a trace, while others stay with us for decades? Why can you remember the smell of your grandmother’s kitchen or your first heartbreak in vivid detail, but not what you did last Tuesday? A happy life is not the same as a memorable Life. And memories can be designed. Here are 8 psychological ingredients that make experiences stick. Firsts slow down time Your brain loves novelty. This is why people over forty years of age, experience the...

Most couples step into long-term relationships swept up by the intoxicating rush of falling in love. This stage feels magical - euphoric, obsessive and all-consuming. You wake up thinking of your partner. You go to sleep imagining them. Every moment together feels like heaven. In this emotional high, it’s easy to believe you’ve met perfection. This illusion tricks you into thinking that yo have achieved deep intimacy - and that this feeling, if it’s truly “real”, should last forever. But the...

For many couples, this insight comes as a shock. Research from the Gottman Love Lab, drawn from over 40 years of longitudinal studies, shows that 69% of relationship conflicts are unsolvable. These are known as perpetual problems - issues that remain resent throughout the lifespan of a relationship, no matter how much effort, therapy or love is invested. At first glace, this can feel discouraging. But in reality, understanding the 69% rule is the difference between couples who feel...