Unhappy to Happy: Marriages That Stick It Out

The vast majority of unhappily married adults who decide to divorce discover that this path does not help them to become happier.  [See previous article.]  In fact, over 80% of those who divorce report being either just as unhappy or more unhappy - even years after the fact.  But what about unhappily married adults who decide to stick it out and remain together?  What becomes of them and their marriages?

Divorce Fails to Make People Happier

Many people who seek a divorce reportedly do so because they feel trapped in an unhappy life. They suppose that if they could liberate themselves from their marriage, which they believe to be the cause of their unhappiness, they could 'move on' to a life that is more fulfilling.  Social research, however, has exposed the fallacy of this myth.

Establishing a Spending Plan: Step Four to Fixing Family Financial Problems

As the name describes, a spending plan (often called a budget) is simply a plan that you and your spouse devise together for how you want to spend your money.  It enables you to make informed decisions regarding where your money goes instead of continually reacting to financial difficulties.  A spending plan helps you make the most of your money and maximize your surplus - the money you have left after all your financial obligations are met.  Make your money work for you!

Avoidance: Methods of Dealing with Conflict

One of the most difficult aspects of married life is successfully navigating through the times of conflict that inevitably occur with every couple.  There are five typical methods of dealing with marital conflict.  [See previous article.]  One of the most common methods is avoidance. Avoidance is a form of withdrawal in which individuals seek to remove themselves from conflict – either physically or emotionally.  This can happen for a number of different reasons and it is virtually always a poor way of handling conflict.

Love Does Not Envy

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 delineates several critical attributes that reveal the force and nature of love. Among these features is the truth that love does not envy. What does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this teaching with respect to the love between a husband and a wife?

The Delicate Balance of Closeness in Marriage

It goes without saying that it is good for a husband and wife to be close to one another.  Establishing and maintaining an emotional intimacy based on bondedness and connectedness should be a priority in every marriage.  In order to achieve this objective, couples must foster successful communication, honesty, openness, tenderness and related qualities.  This should be the expectation and goal of every union.

Factors that Reduce the Risk of Divorce

Virtually everyone has heard that the American divorce rate is about 50% for all first marriages (second marriages are about 60% and it gets higher after that). However, many do not realize that there are several personal and social factors that significantly decrease the risk of divorce.  In other words, not everyone is at risk to the same extent.  There are many choices people can make to reduce the risk of divorce in their own lives.

Appeasement: Methods of Dealing with Conflict

The manner in which couples handle the inevitable conflict that arises in marriage is one of the primary indicators of the long-term health of the relationship.There are five typical ways that people handle conflict in their marriage.  [See previous article.]  One way that some individuals choose is appeasement. When appeasement occurs, one spouse regularly yields his/her own feelings, beliefs or ideas in order to pacify or please the other. To some, this seems like a noble position to assume. After all, keeping peace and harmony in the relationship is important. But, is “giving in to get along” an effective method for dealing with conflict?

Love is Kind

Kindness is a critical attribute that reveals the force and nature of love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. What does scripture mean when it asserts that “love is kind”? The Greek word rendered “kind” in this verse literally means to “show oneself useful” in the sense of manners or morals. There are two basic concepts contained in this idea. And both shed much light on love between a husband and wife.

Analyzing Spending: Step Three to Fixing Family Financial Problems

Because financial struggles are a common source of marital discord addressing financial issues will not only help your family economically, but can also keep your marriage on the right track.  The best approach involves confronting financial problems head-on together with your spouse, getting your mind right about establishing a spending plan, tracking spending for a month, and organizing spending into meaningful categories.  [See links to previous articles at the end of this post.]  The next step to fixing your family financial problems is to analyze your spending.  There are a few important things you need to know that will help you through this process.

Love is Patient

Patience is a critical attribute that reveals the force and nature of love, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The King James Version states that love “suffereth long”. The Greek word literally means “to hold oneself up against”. This is a figurative saying similar in meaning to the modern phrase “to put up with”. In other words, the Apostle is declaring “love puts up with a lot”. In biblical usage, the term describes long-suffering, forbearance or patience with respect to interactions and relationships with others.

Domination: Methods of Dealing with Conflict

Conflict is inevitable in marriage.  It's not a matter of if conflict will occur, it's a matter of how often and, more importantly, how it is handled when it happens.  There are five common styles of dealing with conflict in marriage.  [See previous article.]  One of these methods is domination.

Ancient Insights Into Love

What is love?  Is it an emotion or feeling?  Is it a relationship state or status?  Is it a choice or decision?  The answer is: "Yes"... to all of the above!

While love is certainly multifaceted, there is a great deal of agreement regarding how we experience and express it.  There are three basic components to love: passion, intimacy, and commitment.  [See previous article.]  While this "triangle of love" conceptualization has been confirmed by contemporary social science research it is by no means a novel idea.  The ancient world shared the same basic understanding.