Happy marriages don't happen by accident. They require consistent work, commitment and dedication of the people involved.
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Couples who have happy marriages have worked to get to where they
are today. You don’t need to envy them. You just need to know the things
you have to do to make your marriage a happy one and apply them to your
relationship.
These 10 happy marriage tips will contribute value to your efforts to build a lasting and happy marriage. Bear them in mind.
1. Build trust
Trust is the foundation of a happy marriage and it’s something you
need to work at. Couples need to be determined not to flirt or get too
close with members of the opposite sex to avoid destroying trust in
their relationships. Doing this might make one party begin to view
someone else as an alternative when their marriage goes through a rough
patch. Having an alternative will weaken your resolve to make your
marriage work.
2. Respect your spouse
Listen to your spouse when he or she talks to you. Mutual respect
is vital for a happy marriage. When you give your mate your undivided
attention it shows that you respect them and value what they have to
say. If your spouse talks to you when you’re in the middle of something
important, explain that you want to hear what they have to say and
suggest a time when you’ll be able to pay better attention.
3. Have fun together
Find thing that you enjoy doing together and then make time to do
them. Exercise together, go on walks, or take on mutually enjoyable
projects together. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you both
have fun doing it. Spending time together enjoying each other’s company
will strengthen your marriage and add another meaningful dimension to
your relationship.
4. Don’t forget to smile
A smile can do so much and requires so little effort. It has the
power to lift someone’s spirits and it sets the stage for a pleasant
reunion after a long and perhaps difficult day. If you want a happy
marriage, lead with your smile and let that be the first impression you
make when you relate with your partner.
5. Learn from the past
Figure out when to do, or not do, certain things. For example, if
you find that you tend to be tense and cranky when you are hungry,
minimize your conversation with your spouse during those times.
Similarly, if you see that your spouse gets worked up whenever you
mention the name of a certain person, don’t mention that person’s name
unless absolutely necessary. Build a happy marriage by being smart
enough to learn from the past.
6. Be polite to each other
When speaking with your partner, use phrases like please and thank
you. Being polite should not be viewed as a formality. It is a way to
honour your spouse. It helps them feel appreciated and respected too.
Being courteous is like the oil that helps a happy marriage run
smoothly and reduces unnecessary friction. If you can be polite to a
stranger, then it should be even more important to be polite to your
marriage mate.
7. Don’t keep scores
Marriage is not a contest, so keeping scores only hurts your
relationship in the long run. You should build side-by-side with your
partner. So unless your spouse is a total slacker, recognize that in a
happy marriage both partners try to help their mate carry the load.
8. Overlook small things
Trivial things destroy marriages. Wouldn’t it be ironic if a
marriage was strong enough to stand up to all the big challenges, but
couldn’t get past the minor irritations of daily life? Learn to view
your partners little idiosyncrasies as entertaining rather than
irritating. It works, so don’t sweat the small stuff. Overlook small
things. Laugh over them and move on.
9. Respect your spouse’s privacy
Don’t go through your partner’s things out of curiosity or in an
effort to check up on them. You know it feels offensive to have your
privacy violated instead of respected. So, don’t do that to your spouse.
Don’t let a sense of insecurity cause you to become overly suspicious
of your mate.
On the other hand, being secretive can create suspicion. A happy
marriage should be built on open and honest communication. So, if there
is something you need to know, ask, don’t snoop. You should also be
honest with your partner.
10. Don’t fight dirty
Couples who start fights with name-calling or personal criticisms
are more likely to spiral out of control and are likely to be unhappy in
their marriages than couples who have learned to fight neutrally. The
most successful couples also know how to reduce their fights, either by
asking for a break or using humour to defuse the tension.
Credits: The Sun