Being married is an enormous commitment, and keeping the passion alive can be a challenge, but knowing how to keep the marriage strong is fundamentally important for all couples.
Nowadays, more and more people are choosing to get divorced, but that doesn't mean you and your spouse have to be part of the trend.
Here are the six best-kept secrets to a happy marriage:
Whenever two people commit to living together, disagreements are inevitable. The difference between a successful couple and an unsuccessful couple is that the successful couple uses conflicts to make the relationship stronger.
Listen to the other person, identify what you are doing wrong and consider steps you can take to fix the problem.
Marriage isn't a take-it-or-leave-it kind of thing, which might be why so many wedding vows include the line "for better or for worse."
When you're married, it's for the long haul. You can't just drop it when it suits you or live a separate life. It is vital to remember your commitment, while expecting the same of your partner, too.
Research has shown that successful couples tend to be more involved and interested in what their partner is doing. It is important that you take an active interest in your partner's achievements, endeavours and dreams.
All marriages are fueled and driven by respect. In order to get through any trials in your marriage, the importance of being respectful of who your partner is can't be stressed enough.
Having respect for your partner opens the doors to empathy and selflessness -- two traits that can single-handedly hold a marriage together when things get tough.
Knowing when to give your partner a bit of space is crucial. This is a very important point that many married couples fall into the trap of ignoring. Even though you're married, it doesn't mean you need to be together all the time.
Don't overcrowd your spouse when things aren't perfect. Sometimes taking time to process or reflect on a conflict or a difficult issue is key to finding an effective approach to addressing it.
This last point is perhaps the most important one. When you lose the physical side of your relationship, the passion that binds the two of you together will naturally start to lessen.
It is hard to keep up the sexual excitement you experience during the dating period, but don't let it disappear or get boring.
Marriage requires maintenance and work but if you are willing to put in the time and effort, you'll reap the rewards. While it is impossible to avoid problems, implementing these secrets will certainly help make your marriage into a success story.
