Did you know that the divorce rate in the United States is dropping? While it is true to say that fewer people are getting married, it is no longer accurate to say that half of all marriages end in divorce.
This means that more people are getting it right when it comes to managing to maintain a healthy marriage.
So, what is their secret? How do you stay together ‘till death do us part’?
In this article, we’ll look at nine of the best tips for a healthy marriage.
1. Look for the Good in One Another
When you meet a new partner for the first time, it is quite easy to see the good in them. When you’re falling in love, your hormones will help you see the good in everything they do.
Over time, however, these feelings may fade, and something that you once loved about them might be an annoyance now.
Take some time to make a list of your partner’s best qualities and remind yourself why you love them.
2. Learn to Forgive
There will be times throughout your years together when your relationship will be tested. Your partner may do something that hurts you or might find that you argue from time-to-time. No couple is perfect, and there will be moments when you are angry or upset at your partner.
While these feelings may be valid, you should learn not to hold onto them for too long. Learn to find it in your heart to forgive your partner. It is essential to let them know that they hurt you, but that you’ve forgiven them.
This article gives more tips on how to heal after being hurt.
3. Work on Your Communication Skills
You may feel like you have a solid bond with your partner; however, they don’t always know what you are thinking or feeling. It is essential that you don’t ever assume that they automatically know.
Talk to each other and let one another know how you are feeling. Listening is also important too. Really hearing what your partner has to say is a skill that takes a long time to develop. Put in the effort and learn to listen to each other.
4. Understand Yourself
Not only do you need to work to understand your partner, but you also need to understand yourself. Understanding yourself is very important in a relationship. Learning about who you are will better prepare you for personal growth.
As you learn more about yourself, commit yourself to continue learning more about your partner too. You may think that you know everything about your partner; however, as people, we’re continually evolving.
Always work on discovering more about your parter’s new hopes, dreams, and fears.
5. Show Each Other Respect
It is essential that you treat your partner as you would wish to be treated yourself. That means that you should never resort to name-calling or put-downs.
One of the best ways to show your partner the respect that they deserve is to pay them compliments.
If you find yourself about to criticize your partner or point out their flaws, think about how you would feel if they were to do that to you.
6. Develop the Ability to Negotiate Conflict
Disagreements and arguments are part of any relationship. Even in the most healthy marriage, there will be conflicts. The important thing about any conflict is how you negotiate it. If a dispute is allowed to increase in its intensity, then it could become unhealthy and may even be unsafe.
Understand the issues that you have in your relationship and discuss them.
Couple’s counseling is one of the resources you can access that will help you develop the skills to handle conflict in a proactive and positive way.
7. Spend Time Together
If you want a healthy marriage, then you will need to spend time together. This will mean days out and date nights and breaks away together. Although the quality of the time that you spend together is vital to your relationship, so too is the quantity of the time you spend.
If you are not able to naturally spend time with each other, schedule it. Make seeing your partner a priority in your life and put aside your work and your interests, and devote some of your time to your relationship.
8. Work on Your Intimacy
In a healthy, loving relationship, intimacy is essential. Not just physical intimacy but also emotional. Intimacy is about being close to your partner.
Create safe spaces for each other so that you can share your thoughts and feelings with each other in a supportive and non-judgemental way.
You should learn the difference and importance of both physical and emotional intimacy within your relationship. You’ll need to know when it is appropriate to offer each type of intimacy.
9. Develop Common Interests
If you and your partner have common interests, it gives you something to talk about. Think about taking up a hobby together and share your passions with one another.
There is no harm in having separate interests; however, having that one thing that you do together will allow you to share and compromise.
A Healthy Marriage Takes Hard Work
A healthy marriage may seem easy during the early days; however, as your relationship progresses, you will face more challenges along the way.
By having shared interests, excellent communication skills, intimacy, and the ability to see the best in each other, you’ll be able to overcome these challenges together.
If you have the bedrock of a good relationship, then it will only grow stronger following any adversity that you face.
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