Can You Trust Your Feelings?

Often when there is conflict in a marriage spouses experience various negative thoughts and emotions that are automatically triggered by the events and circumstances taking place in the relationship.  When this happens, however, we should ask ourselves some important questions.  Can I trust that these instincts are correct?  Do my feelings truly reflect reality?  Should I act upon them?  

Divorce is Contagious

Did you know that divorce is contagious?  Unlike the flu you won’t catch the divorce bug because someone coughs near you.  Nonetheless, researchers do classify the influence of divorce as a form of “social contagion” – the spread of ideas, attitudes, and behaviors within social networks through imitation and conformity.

Tips for Expressing Gratitude

Expressing gratitude to your spouse is one of the best things you can do to foster happiness in your marriage.  Feeling appreciated keeps the feeling of being respected and valued alive.  It helps us maintain an intimate bond with our mate.  It even impacts how committed we are to the relationship.  These are just a few of the positive effects of gratitude in marriage.  [See related article].

The Power of Gratitude

Experts in business, leadership, management, and related fields have articulated the benefits of expressing gratitude for quite a long time.  Customers are more loyal when they feel appreciated.  Employees are significantly more productive when they receive positive recognition for their achievements.  Students work harder when their teacher acknowledges effort.  Volunteers donate their time more frequently when they are thanked for their service.

Never Marry Your Soulmate

You may have heard the old adage “never meet your heroes.”  Some may instinctively wonder why this would be considered good advice.  After all doesn’t everyone want to meet their hero?  But many who have actually had the opportunity to meet some famous person whom they strongly admired have been sorely disappointed.

Understanding Bad Moods in Marriage

When either you or your spouse experiences a bad mood it can very easily have a negative impact on your relationship.  Often the effect is only temporary.  But, if bad moods are manifested frequently and go unchecked it can result in a much more serious problem.  Below you will find some information the causes of bad moods and how they are a danger to your marriage.

Love Bears All Things

The Word of God states, in 1 Corinthians 13:7, that love “beareth all things” (KJV).  Indeed, this is one of the characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love.  But, what does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and a wife in the bonds of holy matrimony?

Disclosing Marriage Problems to Outsiders

When marriages undergo difficult times it is normal to want to turn to friends and family for their help and support.  This can be a good thing.  But, it also has the potential to introduce unintended complications.  One thing is certain, you should use discretion and wisdom regarding the information that you share with outsiders as well as the individuals with whom you choose to share.  The purpose of this article is to discuss various factors to consider regarding speaking with outsiders about difficulties in your marriage.

10 Tips to Become a Friendlier Spouse

Often people say they want to be a better spouse or have a stronger marriage.  But many times they admit that they don’t know how to accomplish this.  One of the easiest and most effective ways is to be more friendly.  It really is that simple.  Begin to treat your mate as a genuine friend and the levels of bondedness and emotional intimacy will increase dramatically in your relationship.  Below are ten tips to get you started.

5 Keys to Success in Marriage

There exists an age old question regarding which type of relationship style provides the best potential for a happy marriage.  What is the ideal blend of personalities, interests, backgrounds, experiences, and other characteristics that results in marital bliss?  There is not a single correct answer.  Couples manage to find success in marriage in all sorts of circumstances -and virtually anywhere on the relationship style spectrum.  However, marriage experts have identified a few key factors that serve to predict happy and lasting unions.  The most important of these characteristics are discussed, below.

Mutual Accountability in Marriage

One frequently overlooked dynamic of successful marriages is mutual accountability between husband and wife.  Indeed, mutual accountability is essential to a healthy, harmonious union.  Many happy couples may naturally employ these principles into their relationship without really realizing it.  Others deliberately make it a point of emphasis in the marriage.  In any case, husbands and wives who are not mutually accountable to one another are generally putting their relationship at risk of harm.

Ten Tasks for Rebuilding Marital Trust

Perhaps the most devastating thing that can take place in a marriage is when trust becomes significantly damaged between husband and wife.  Restoring this trust is generally a difficult thing to do.  It is an undertaking that does not come naturally or instinctively, so it is something we must learn.  Below, ten tasks for rebuilding trust in marriage are briefly described.  These tasks or steps are not necessarily listed in a specific order.  Nor are the explanations exhaustive as much more could be said about each one.  But, all of these ten tasks are certainly essential components to reestablish marital trust.

Telltale Signs of Troubled Marriages

There is no consensus regarding the factors that produce a happy marriage. Indeed, there are many and diverse positive characteristics that couples have discovered to make their marriages meaningful, satisfying, and mutually fulfilling. While certain themes tend to emerge in studying happy marriages not all happy marriages have all of the same positive traits in common. There are many paths to marital bliss.  On the other hand, marriage researchers have known for decades that there are specific and solidly defined factors that are accurate predictors for marital failure. In fact, a doomed relationship can be predicted with over 90% accuracy when specific negative traits are present. Nearly all failed marriages can be attributed in some way to one or more of four well-documented characteristics.

More Quotes on Marriage, Family, and Love

‎We continue to get positive feedback regarding the quotes we share about marriage, family, and love.  Below is yet another compilation of such quotes.  Some are intended to be inspirational, some motivational, some thought provoking, and a few just plain humorous.  Enjoy!

Parent-in-Law Relationships

One aspect of marriage and family life that presents potential for difficulties is the relationship between an individual and the parents of his or her spouse.  The nature of these challenges differs greatly depending on the personalities, family situation, and other circumstances of those involved.  However, there are certainly several areas in which problems are common.  The purpose of this brief article is to identify some of these more common areas and provide some basic principles for navigating through the rough spots of parent-in-law relationships.

Bedtime: 3 Most Important Times of Day

The Bible admonishes us to “let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).  Some have paraphrased this scriptural mandate with the simple phrase “don’t go to bed angry”.  These are sound words to apply in any relationship or situation.  But, certainly we would be remiss if we did not apply this timeless wisdom to our marriage and home life first and foremost.  After all, our family relationships are the most important of all our human associations.

Ten Easy Resolutions to Improve Your Marriage

While mulling over ways to change your life for the better this year, why not consider a resolution to improve your marriage? Virtually nothing else that you resolve to do will be more advantageous to your life and happiness in the long run. Here are ten suggestions for relatively easy resolutions you can make to towards this important goal.

Managing Stress in Marriage

Most people are aware of the injurious personal costs of stress - those that harm the individual. However, we often do not consider the destructive interpersonal consequences - those that damage our relationships. Concerning marriage, the effects of stress can certainly present many difficult challenges. [See related article.]  But, your marriage can survive – and even thrive – despite encountering stress if you learn to manage it properly.

Causes of Stress in Marriage

Stress is a part of life.  There is simply no getting around it completely.  However, the more you learn about the causes, effects, and symptoms of stress the better you will understand how it impacts your life and your marriage.  Armed with this information, you can then take steps to manage stress more effectively, thereby strengthening and protecting the relationship between you and your spouse. [See related article.]

Quotes on Marriage, Family, and Love

‎Many readers have commented that they like the quotes we share about marriage, family, and love. Some are intended to be inspirational, some motivational, some thought provoking, and a few just plain humorous. Below are several of the quotes we have shared. Enjoy!