While divorce rates are up and long, lasting marriages seem to be rarer and rarer, many couples still want to marry and are looking for the key elements to a happy marriage. If this is true, then what are the requirements of having a happy, satisfying married life?
While each relationship and couple are different so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. But there are some key elements that can boost a long-term happy marriage.
4 Elements to a Happy Marriage
The four most important ones follow.
1. Commitment
Being committed to each other and the marriage is key. It’s more than wanting to stay together for a long time. It’s the promise to go through all of life’s ups and downs together as a couple. It means being wholeheartedly invested in making the marriage, the relationship, the partnership last, pushing all doubts away.
It’s committing that the relationship is long-term, not just a temporary experiment that can be dissolved at the first sign of trouble. That is the key difference between marriage and dating. You must not just date each other, but rather commit your future together. To have a healthy marriage, you must be committed to the relationship and each other. Commitment is the glue that holds a relationship together. When it’s lacking, couples begin to drift apart. Even if they still love one another, they no longer feel a strong desire to be together.
2. Love
Of course, most couples start a marriage being in love. But sustaining that romantic, ‘in-love’ feeling for each other takes effort, generosity, and sacrifice from both partners’ sides. True love means you put your partner first. You give of yourself without expectations of anything in return. You accept each other as they are, all their flaws, quirks, irritations, and beliefs. You forgive each other when you fall short or mess up. Love grows deeper as you move through life experiences together, weather the storms, the bad, and the good times. The best marriages are made up of friends who care about each other and are willing to sacrifice things they value for the health of the marriage.
3. Respect
Even if love is present and it’s heartfelt, it won’t mean much if the partners don’t respect each other. Respect means you accept your partners for their thoughts, their qualities, and their abilities. Respect means you trust your partner. You admire your differences. Respecting each other means you can listen to the other’s opinions. Respect helps you overcome challenges and disagreements.
Respect is the foundation of a successful marriage. The two-way respect that you have with your partner helps in all things. Respecting your partner means they will not lie or cheat on you, and they would not do anything to hurt you in any way.
4. Communication
Having an open and good line of communication with your partner helps you avoid misunderstandings, distrust, and lack of respect for the other. Being able to express your needs and wants helps bring you closer. Openly communicating about every aspect of your life, whether that is money, kids, work, family, environment or anything else is key to staying on the same path in marriage.
While these four aspects are the most important ones, other elements for a happy, satisfying marriage include patience, trust, intimacy, humor, and empathy. Being committed, having communication, respecting, and loving each other goes a long way in building a happy, satisfying marriage. In order for a marriage to be successful, it is necessary for both spouses to work together towards the common goal of building a strong, lasting relationship. This can be done by being faithful and honest in all aspects of your relationship and making sure you have time with one another to communicate and form long-lasting bonds.
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