Mike Sansone

Chicago

Senior editor, NFL (Bears, Chiefs, Falcons) @TheAthletic. Previously Bears/NFL editor @chicagotribune. JOIN ME AT: https://t.co/R3nvPxxXyZ

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Articles

Hold Space or Hijack It: Listening That Lifts or Silences

1 week ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

Love Muscles | ListeningA Build It or Break It scenario to build Listening Love Muscles. In every conversation, we make a choice — to hold space or to hijack it. One builds trust. The other chips away at connection. When we hold space for someone, we’re not just hearing their words — we’re offering them safety. It’s the quiet power of staying present without needing to fix, interrupt, judge, or insert our own story.
Build It or Break It: Patience

2 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

Love Muscles | PatienceBuilding Lasting Bonds or Breaking Down Trust with FrustrationNot yet a member of Medium? Read the full story with this free link. Most relationships don’t fall apart because of big betrayals — they slowly crack under the weight of small frustrations and unmet expectations. At the heart of those cracks? A missing muscle: Patience. Think of it this way: relationships are dynamic and ever-evolving, kind of like a garden.
From Stuck to Sparked - In 4 Solid Ways

2 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

ImaginationUsing Imagination to Overcome Relationship RutsNot a member? Read this for free with this link. Ever feel like your relationship is stuck on repeat? The same routines. The same arguments. The same silence. It’s not that the love is gone — it’s that the spark is buried under the weight of everyday patterns. But here’s the secret: imagination is the match that can reignite it.
Book Recommendations: Imagination Week

2 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

Books | Love MusclesA NEW Love Muscles SeriesAs you may have noticed, we’re hosting themed weeks centered around a specific Love Muscle each week. Last week, we looked closely at Honesty. This week has been on Imagination (and next week is Patience). As part of this week-long deep dive, on Saturdays, we will be offering book recommendations on the topic. Here are the books I recommend on Imagination as we close up Imagination Week on Reaching Hearts:1.
Thinking on Thoughts: Imagination

3 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

QuotesA Weekly Thursday feature with themed quotesI love quotes, and several people I love do, too. Maybe you’re with me on this train of thought. There are periods during the day when I will ponder a single word. I will look it up in a dictionary and a thesaurus and chew on what I find. This week, we ponder on the word and practices of Imagination and a few quotes to think about:“What makes someone special is imagination or creativity, the ability to make a mental leap and see things differently.
Build It or Break It: Imagination - Grow Together or Drift Apart

3 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

Love MusclesFanning the flame or losing the spark? What do you do when love feels… dull? Not dramatic. Not disastrous. Just a little lifeless. The spark has dimmed. The routine has settled in. And connection feels more like coordination. Here’s the truth:Love doesn’t die from conflict. It withers from neglect. And the first thing to go? Imagination. BUILD IT: Use Imagination to Strengthen ConnectionImagination is the relationship muscle most people don’t know they need.
Why Imagination - Not Compatibility - Might Be the Secret to Lasting Love

3 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

The Reaching Hearts publication is a place where readers can find stories about “Good Loves, Good Friends, and Unconditional Forgiveness.” Also Patience, Kindness, Gratitude, and Joy. RelationshipsDoes Dreaming Together Set a Stage for Continued Communication? Have you ever wondered why some relationships seem to grow stronger with each passing year, while others quietly unravel after just a few seasons? Most couples assume the answer lies in compatibility.
Imagination: Your Love Life’s Secret Growth Strategy

3 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

LoveBecause love isn’t just something we feelNot yet a member? Read this free, on me, with this link. When people think about what makes love last, they often mention trust, communication, and time together. And while those are all vital ingredients, there’s one powerful quality that rarely gets the spotlight it deserves:Imagination. Yes, imagination. Imagination isn’t just for artists and daydreamers. It’s the secret strategy for helping your love grow stronger, deeper, and more vibrant over time.
Book Recommendations: Honesty Week

3 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

Books | Love MusclesA NEW Love Muscles SeriesNot yet a member? Here’s a free link to read the full piece for free. As you may have noticed, we're hosting themed weeks centered around a specific Love Muscle each week. Last week, we looked closely at Consistency. This week has been on Honesty (and next week is Imagination). As part of this week-long deep dive, on Saturdays, we will be offering book recommendations on the topic.
Thinking on Thoughts: Honesty

4 weeks ago | medium.com | Mike Sansone

The Reaching Hearts publication is a place where readers can find stories about “Good Loves, Good Friends, and Unconditional Forgiveness.” Also Patience, Kindness, Gratitude, and Joy. QuotesA Weekly Thursday feature with themed quotesI love quotes, and several people I love do, too. Maybe you’re with me on this train of thought. There are periods during the day when I will ponder a single word. I will look it up in a dictionary and a thesaurus and chew on what I find.