Tips to Make Your Marriage Better
Our readers and fans share their favorite advice for making marriage stronger and happier.
Is there something your mother once told you that stayed with you forever? Did a gal pal once set you straight about love? Or did a television talk show host give you insights that you’ve been able to use in your life? As part of our “Lessons for Living” series, we’ve asked our readers and fans to share the best marriage advice they have ever received. Read on for 18 tips that have changes the lives of married couples.
Respect, Trust, and Love
Respect, Trust, and Love; My husband and I followed these steps, and been happily married for 18 years!-Elva Martinez Sandoval
Be Open to Change
The best advice I have received is to be open to change and allow your love for one another to expand and grow. It gives for an exciting ride!-Stacey Williams-Haremski
Neither Of You Are Perfect
Treat your spouse with the loving kindness you expect to receive then do a bit more. Understand that you are not perfect and don't expect them to be.
-Helen Mikus
Be Supportive
It is very important for both of you to be supportive of the other one's ideas, goals. Stand beside them even though sometimes you may disagree with the other one. Keep the lines of communication open, for if you don't, your partner will not let you know what is going on. If you shut them out, they feel unwanted. Let them know that you are there for them and that you love them in spite of themselves.-Ann Taylor Johnson
Stand By Each Other and Listen
Understand that your spouse is a person with needs, wants and desires that probably differ from your own. Support your spouse (even if you think they're wrong) in public and discuss differences in private. Take every opportunity to say, "I love you"...and mean it. Finally, listen!-Bert
Share The Same Values
Find someone who values the same things in life that you do. Opposites attract, but like things stick together.-Gail Ramsdell
You Choose to Love
You wake up every day and make the decision to love that person. It doesn't just happen, you make the choice.-Mary Koran Keaton
Pray Together
Pray aloud together every day, there's no better way to learn what's truly on a person's heart and mind than to hear what they're talking to God about.-Beth Montgomery
Keep The Fire Burning
You have to keep the flame burning, the flames won't fan themselves!
-Diane Huff
Don't Focus On Faults
When you see faults in your spouse it’s best to look for yours also. Or stop looking for faults in your spouse or you may realize he is looking at yours too.-Diane Duncan
Give It Your All
Marriage isn’t 50/50. It’s 100/100. You need to give whole heartedly to each other and everything will work out. Trust in god and your partner.
-Nicole Harriman-hill
Be Best Friends
You must be best friends, too. I can go to my other half and not worry about being put down no matter what. If I make a mistake or he does, we work it out by talking.
-Ann Taylor Johnson
Take Responsibility For Your Self
Understand that everything you ask your partner to give you can only be found inside yourself. Be responsible for you and let your partner be responsible by him/herself. Live together but not depend upon each other.
-Daniela Vianello
Trust, Honesty, Kindness, and Forgiveness
Lots of trust, honesty, kindness, and forgiveness.-Gina Gregson
"You're Right About That"
The best marriage advice I've ever received is from a lecture by Dr. Wayne Dyer my wife and I attended, "You're Right About That". My wife and I have a lot of fun now with this short statement. It's gotten so we know that when the other one says this that they are really saying, "you're wrong, but I love you enough to pretend you're right!" We laugh together when one of us uses this line. It's a great attitude.
- Scott
Don't Try to Change Your Partner
Do not enter into marriage hoping to change the other person!
-Stephanie Worrall
He Is The Company He Keeps
"Birds of a feather flock together". Be sure you like his siblings, parents and his friends before you marry. Like it or not, these people are with you all your married life. Look at them and you see what he is made of.
-Jeanie
Show Lots of Affection
This may sound weird but, treat your spouse like you treat your pet. Give plenty of hugs and kisses, praise them, and pet them for no reason. When you wake up tell them you love them. When you go away and return, be excited to see them. In the middle of a heated argument that's going nowhere just stop and give your spouse a big kiss this takes the ...edge off and both either laugh or hopefully can talk it out without a scream fest.-Debbie Tomlin Wilson
Article from: www.beliefnet.com
