What is the secret to a happy and healthy marriage? The answer is that you are to regularly make different loving connections with your spouse. This is the only way you will be able to build trust, communication and find happiness with each other. Here are five pieces of healthy marriage advice you can start using now.
1. Keep The Bigger Picture in Mind
This piece of advice applies to several aspects of your relationship. You need to keep the bigger picture in mind to build a future together and to set some long-term goals. This is essential to building a family and to improving your life. You also need to keep the bigger picture in mind when you go through a rough patch in your marriage. Don’t let the small things get to you and stay focused on what you have built together and on what you plan on doing in the future.
2. Create A Safe Environment
You will regularly make efforts on building a loving and warm environment where each spouse feels comfortable opening up, sharing their feelings and bringing up issues. This means learning to talk about kindly about your problems without blaming and lots of ugly arguing.
This does not mean you will always agree. If you never have differences of opinion, that means one of you isn’t being real. It is also important to be honest with each other and to set some rules and boundaries to protect your precious relationship.
3. Define Your Marriage
Talk about what you want and expect from the relationship. It will be easier to build a strong marriage if you both have a clear picture of what a successful marriage means for you.
Make a list of things you both need to do in order to make this ideal relationship become a reality. This list should include some long-term goals as well as smaller things you can do on a daily basis to make the relationship stronger.
It is vital to be clear with each other on expectations about what each spouse will do regarding financial responsibilities, parenting and household chores.
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4. Make Spending Quality Time Together a Priority
Spending quality time with your spouse is crucial for a happy marriage. This will allow you to connect with each other, even if you are just watching a movie at home.
Have a talk about what quality time means to each other and put some time aside for it. It is important to build a friendship with your spouse and to laugh together. Do small things for your spouse even if they didn’t ask for it. A few kind words or a small gift can really make a difference.
5. Socialize Outside of Your Marriage
You can build a healthier relationship with your spouse if you do not entirely rely on each other for socializing. Everyone has social needs and it is healthy to spend time with a group of friends, whether you do it as a couple or separately.
These five pieces of healthy marriage advice will help you build a stronger and happier relationship with your spouse. Remember that you need to invest time and effort on your marriage throughout your entire life and that it is never too late to get started!
Waverly Hanson
Marriage Counselor & Author
In my personal life, I have had a long successful marriage and have remarried following my husband's death. I have had three sons and helped raise a niece for three years and have seven grandchildren. I have loved spending time with them as they were growing up.
I also enjoy getting together with family and friends, ATVing in the mountains, photography, hiking, and traveling. I also enjoy reading, creating art, decorating, and serving others by volunteering.
Assisting couples in rebuilding their marriages has been so rewarding as I've had the privilege of seeing hundreds of couples reunite and get back to being positively connected to one another.
I also work with personal development and those who want to move forward by making positive improvements such as goal setting, self-care, boundaries, behavioral improvements, overcoming procrastination, conflict management, etc.