Top 5 Tips for a Healthy Marriage
A survey showed 64% of Americans are “very happy” in their relationships. While that is positive, not every couple surveyed is a married couple and none are this happy 100% of the time.
It is normal for married couples to experience ebbs and flows in their relationship. All couples could use some more tips for a healthy marriage and some helpful advice from time to time.
Because the more effort you put into making the marriage work for you both, the happier you both will be. Read on to discover the top five tips for a successful marriage whether you are newlyweds or 30 years strong.
Top 5 Tips for a Healthy Marriage
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Many couples struggle with communicating. Some hold their feelings in and are dishonest or resentful toward their spouse. Others speak in anger and raise their voice at their spouse.
In a healthy relationship, it is important to always voice your thoughts and feelings with your spouse and to listen to theirs, too. Never resort to petty or passive-aggressive behavior.
At the end of every important discussion or disagreement, your goal is to find a resolution no matter what it is. Your marriage is more important than being right.
Appreciate Your Spouse as They Are
This is one of the most difficult tips for a healthy marriage for some spouses to grasp. You cannot only tolerate, accept, or respect your spouse but you need to appreciate them exactly as they are, too.
If you want them to change, that will only lead to frustration and disappointment. Instead, focus on their good qualities and everything else will soon seem insignificant.
Admit When You Need Help
Not everyone is born with the tools to be a good spouse, so you might need couples counseling at some point. More couples are in marriage counseling than you might think. If you are from Seattle, marriage counseling can be a helpful resource for couples who are struggling with relationship issues, such as communication problems, conflicts, or intimacy issues. There are reliable relationship therapist San Francisco and counselors who specialize in couples therapy.
Couples therapy can help you work through your individual and joint issues so you can have a healthier, happier marriage.
Be Each Other’s Cheerleaders
Most marriage advice will tell you that you need to be each other’s best friend as well as spouse. Let’s go one further because you need to be each other’s cheerleaders, too.
You need to support your spouse so that they can grow and improve as an individual. You need to celebrate their wins as your wins and console their losses. Your marriage is better when you are both thriving.
Align Your Values
The most important tip is to make sure you and your spouse have the same values. In an ideal world, you would figure this out before you get married.
If one wants to move abroad and one wants to stay in your hometown, you have different values. If one of you wants four kids and one of you wants zero kids, that is a conflicting value.
It is okay for you to support different sports teams or like different food, but you need to have the same values.
Follow These Tips for a Healthy Marriage
There are so many more tips for a healthy marriage, but these are the ones to focus on first. As long as you love and respect each other and want to be together, you will go the distance.
Want to read more helpful advice on how to improve your relationships? Browse our website for tons of educational articles!