Problem: Article: Counseling isn't a sure-fire fix, but it can help you air and work out problems as well as learn how to communicate more effectively with your partner. Consider couples counseling if your relationship is in trouble. However, even going to counseling on your own can be helpful. Ask your partner to go to counseling with you if you've been having communications or trust issues, if you've grown distant and are just "occupying the same space," or if one of you is acting on negative feelings. Try to find a counselor that you both can work with. This may take several tries. Ask potential counselors questions about their credentials, experience, and fitness to help you, and success rate. Think of a counselor as a consultant rather than a fixer. A counselor will advise you, but the most important work will occur outside of your sessions. Consider finding a counselor or therapist even if your partner refuses to attend. To fight for a relationship, you'll need to face problems head-on and not just paper them over, allowing them to fester. With a counselor or not, be ready to talk deeply about the issues in your relationship. This isn't easy. It means revisiting old hurts, talking about resentments, and expressing disappointment. Be ready to listen to your partner. The key to moving forward is to attend and understand past hurt with empathy. Be willing to express your own frustrations. But always do so tactfully. Resist the urge to blame or justify behaviors in the past and instead look to understand the underlying motives you may see that these were not as malicious as you thought. Recall what drew you together. There was a reason you and your partner ended up together in the first place. Try to reflect together on why you loved each other and whether it's possible to regain that spark. Putting your feelings out in the open will help you to understand motivations and needs, so learning how to talk and even disagree is critical. It can help you and your partner reassess assumptions about one another as well as to state your needs, clearly and openly. If you are having counseling, make sure to talk about effective communication with your counselor. Follow the rules of effective communication and "fighting fair." For example, try to avoid accusatory language start sentences with "I think..." or "I feel..." rather than saying things like "You always..." or "You never..." Avoid generalizations, as well. Be specific and stick to the facts and your feelings. Talk about what you need from your partner, not what you think they are failing to give you, i.e., "I need but don't feel your support for my career as a businesswoman." Or, try "I feel ignored, because I want and need more public affection from you" instead of "You ignore me because you never show affection in public." Invite the other person's point of view. Don't interrupt, but listen and then try to restate what you've heard.
Summary: Seek counseling together or as an individual. Be ready to explore your past history. Learn to express your feelings constructively.

Problem: Article: Prepare to argue that God doesn't exist by familiarizing yourself with the main arguments and ideas of well-known atheists. God is Not Great, by Christopher Hitchens, for instance, is a good place to start. The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins, is another excellent source of rational arguments against the existence of a religious deity. In addition to researching arguments in favor of atheism, investigate the rebuttals or justifications from the religious perspective. Be familiar with the issues or beliefs that might invite your opponent's criticism, and ensure you can adequately defend your own beliefs. If your arguments are not presented in a straightforward, understandable way, your message will be lost on the person you're talking to, and your arguments will be weak. For instance, when explaining how one's religion is culturally determined, you should get the other person to agree with each of your premises (the basic facts that lead to your conclusion). You might say, "Mexico was settled by a Catholic country, right?" When they answer yes, move on to the next premise, like "Most people in Mexico are Catholic, right?" When they answer yes, move on to your conclusion by saying, for instance, "The reason that most people believe in God in Mexico is the history of the religious culture there." Belief in God is a sensitive topic. Approach the debate as a conversation in which both you and your conversation partner have valid points. Speak in a friendly manner to your conversation partner. Ask them for reasons as to why they believe so strongly in their faith. Listen patiently to their reasons and tailor your responses appropriately and thoughtfully to what they have to say. Ask your conversation partner for resources (books or websites) that you can use to learn more about their perspective and beliefs. Belief in God is complicated, and statements about God's existence -- either for or against -- cannot be taken as fact. The existence of God can be an emotionally-charged topic. If you are excited or aggressive during the conversation, you might be incoherent and/or say something that you regret. Try deep breathing to stay calm. Breathe in slowly through your nose for five seconds, then breathe out through your mouth for three seconds. Repeat until you feel calm. Slow down your rate of speech so that you have more time to think about what you want to say and avoid saying something you later regret. If you start feeling angry, say to your conversation partner, "Let's agree to disagree," then part ways from them. Be polite when discussing God. Remember a lot of people are sensitive about their religions. Be respectful of those who believe in God. Do not use offensive or accusatory language like bad, stupid, or crazy. Do not call your conversation partner names. In the end, rather than making a concise point, your opponent will often default to "I'm sorry you're going to Hell." Do not respond with an equally passive-aggressive retort.
Summary: Do your homework. Arrange your arguments in a logical way. Be accommodating when discussing God's existence. Stay calm.

Problem: Article: You can't use a pen with a plastic tip to make a pipe because plastic melts and releases toxic smoke when it burns. Only use a pen with a metal tip that can be unscrewed to reduce the odds that you unnecessarily expose yourself to dangerous chemicals when you smoke. You can use a pen with a metal tip and a plastic case, but it's better if the case is made out of metal as well. The tip of the pen is the small metal cone that surrounds the point when you're writing.
Summary:
Find a metal pen with a removable cartridge and metal tip.