The Secrets to Having a Healthy Marriage

Marriage isn’t always a bed of roses. It doesn’t come with an instruction manual and can often become a bit overwhelming. Couples may appear similar on the surface but no two people are the same, making the union of two souls a delicate game. 

Here we’ll share some of the secrets to having and maintaining a healthy marriage:

1. Invest time in one another
2. Show each other respect
3. Discover yourself first 
4. Look for intimacy and similar interests
5. Achieve better communication
6. Look for the best in one another 
7. Be forgiving of one another

Invest time in one another

Married couples benefit from spending quality time together.  Scheduling date nights or weekend activities is a fantastic way to achieve this special time with your spouse. This time can help you better understand each other, your differences and how to resolve any issues that could come up. Healthy marriages require both quality and quantity.

Show each other respect

The foundation of any relationship is respect.  Treating your partner as you would like to be treated will strengthen your bond. Paying your partner a compliment is a quick and easy way to show them respect. When a couple fails to respect each other, they often slip into negative habits. Research shows that toxic criticism can damage the connection between couples.  It’s important to be mindful of when, how often, and your tone (respect) when criticizing your partner.

Discover yourself first

Many couples begin relationships without fully understanding who they are first. Knowing yourself better can help you develop as a person and as a partner to your spouse. Once you know yourself  you can then make a commitment to learning new things about your spouse.  Just think of the relationship you will have over the course of a lifetime together.

Look for intimacy and similar interests

Intimacy between a married couple can add a new level of happiness and closeness. It’s important to keep in mind that intimacy does not always correlate to sexuality. Learn the differences between emotional and physical closeness. Offering your partner one type when they need the other might strain your union.

When couples have similar interests, they prosper. Similar interests are essential for building a healthy marriage. The goal is to have something outside of your family that you and your spouse can enjoy together. That doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy every activity, but it does allow for more sharing and compromise.

Achieve better communication

Communication is key to a healthy marriage. When it comes to resolving conflicts that inevitably emerge in relationships, effective communication can go a long way. Never assume your partner is aware of your thoughts or emotions and knows when to just listen. Books, marital education workshops, and online courses are among the various tools available to help partners improve their listening skills in a marriage.

Be forgiving of one another

Forgiveness is a crucial virtue in a marriage. Your partner will do something that hurts, irritates, or upsets you at some point in your marriage. Given that nobody is flawless, try to give your spouse some compassion. If you make a mistake, admit it right away and make the necessary repairs. By doing this, you can enhance your marriage and promote forgiveness.

Look for the best in each other

You fell in love with some of your partner’s excellent qualities when you first met him/her. Your perception of said qualities may have shifted over time. Give each other the benefit of the doubt. Make a list of everything you appreciate in your spouse. It will guide you to falling in love all over again.

Marriage Matters to Be Strong

A strong and “healthy marriage” ultimately creates a strong and “healthy family.” And an organization that’s helping married couples to become a better, more unified union is Be Strong International. Be Strong is a Miami-based non-profit that empowers youth and families — to go from brokenness to wholeness. 

Be Strong has a program called Marriage Matters that helps guide married couples. The objective of their program is to help couples, at all stages, create and maintain a healthy marriage.

As Be Strong also states, some of the most important aspects of a healthy marriage include:

• Connection
• Commitment
• Giving
• Respect
• Trust
• Intimacy

Relationship counseling  can be the first step to help with marriage problems. Online marriage education and relationship counseling  are not widely discussed topics, but we need to start the conversation to make a difference. Getting marriage education can be a difficult topic, but there’s no need to be scared. Be Strong is there to guide you into having a healthy marriage.

 “We believe that marriage gives, and when couples focus on this as a principle, then all other aspects tend to emerge or improve marriage relationships.”

For more information on Be Strong’s Marriage Matters program, click here to visit their website!

Check out last month’s Marriage Matters Ceremony Night. Click here to view the gallery.