NEWS
RELATIONSHIP
PARENTING & FAMILY
LIFE HACKS
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy
AMPLIFY UPWORTHY is part of
GOOD Worldwide Inc. publishing
family.
© GOOD Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved.
AMPLIFY.UPWORTHY.COM / RELATIONSHIP

Divorce lawyer reveals the ‘easiest problem to fix’ in any marriage — yet most men ignore it

He said one of the biggest issues in relationships is when men skip this low effort, high impact move.
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO
(L) A divorce lawyer writing something on form. (R) A couple angry with each other. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Avosb, (R) Violeta Stoimenova)
(L) A divorce lawyer writing something on form. (R) A couple angry with each other. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Avosb, (R) Violeta Stoimenova)

Relationships often struggle over small issues that slowly grow into larger problems. A well-known divorce lawyer recently spoke about one such issue that he believes is simple to solve, yet often ignored. On January 13, 2026, a TikTok video shared under his handle, @james.sexton.99, featured James Sexton during a podcast session discussing marriage and communication. In the clip, he explained that one of the most common problems he’s seen in couples happens when men fail to make this "low percentage move." He noted that many men neglect this simple step, even though it requires little effort and could make a lasting difference in a relationship.


@james.sexton.99 I kept loving through the pain because I didn’t know how to choose myself 💔🌧️ Healing taught me that real love doesn’t make you feel small, confused, or alone 😌✨ Now I’m choosing peace, self-respect, and a future where my heart finally feels safe and whole ❤️ #HealingJourney #PeaceOverPain #SelfLove #DivorceTalk #JamesSexton ♬ son original - 🌅🤍🫶🏻

During the conversation, Sexton reflected on a moment with his partner. He said, “I remember my partner saying to me once something about like, ‘Oh, do you still like my hair?’ And I said, ‘Oh my God, I love it. You are the prettiest woman in the world.’” He admitted that while he felt that way deeply, he questioned whether he said it often enough. “Do I not say it? I should say that every day. I should say that constantly,” he added. Sexton pointed out that many people assume their partners already know how they feel, so they stop expressing it regularly. He believed that this silence often led to partners feeling unnoticed or unappreciated over time.

A close-up shot of divorce papers (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by 
RDNE Stock project)
A close-up shot of divorce papers (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by RDNE Stock project)

He continued by explaining that even if someone had heard a compliment many times, it never lost its value. “Has there ever been a time when you didn’t want to hear it?” he asked. He added, “Has she ever said to you, ‘You are so cool. You are so handsome,’ and that it didn’t feel good? It always feels good.” Sexton described this as a “low percentage move,” meaning it required very little effort but had a high emotional return. He said he did not understand why more men did not make it a habit to offer reassurance and appreciation openly and often.

Sexton summed up his view by saying, “I love a problem that’s easy to fix, and someone feeling unseen is the easiest problem to fix, because all it is, you just have to go, ‘I see you.’” His message focused on the idea that feeling unseen can slowly damage a marriage.

Image Source: TikTok | @lilyvidal47
Image Source: TikTok | @lilyvidal47

Image Source: TikTok | @contessalife
Image Source: TikTok | @contessalife

Many internet users also resonated with his words and shared their own experiences and reactions in the comment section. @nycakat187 shared, "Yeah, married for 13 years and had never complimented me ever. Felt so invisible." @mrstedderteachestwo wrote, "That goes both ways. I found out that once I started giving my husband kind appreciation on a consistent daily basis, he started laying the sweet stuff back on me 10 times harder. We all want to hear it." @shalinisparkle expressed, "I hated my long hair, so I got a bob cut when I lost 85 pounds. My husband looked at me and walked away. Didn't talk to me for 4 days."  

For more marriage and relationship advice, follow @james.sexton.99 on TikTok.

More on Amplify 

Divorce lawyer was asked how to avoid divorce—his answer was a simple two-word response that no one was expecting

Divorce lawyer says the one major indicator a marriage is going to end is quite common among couples

Struggling mom asks divorce attorney who 'saved' her for final invoice—the response leaves her sobbing

POPULAR ON AMPLIFY UPWORTHY
MORE ON AMPLIFY UPWORTHY