“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt by the heart.” Hellen Keller
Generally, studies have shown that happy people tend to live longer. Research over decades has provided evidence that marital satisfaction has a big impact on the health of your heart and your brain. In 2018, a scientific study found that when loving couples hold hands, even under stress, their heart rate, breathing, and brain-wave patterns sync together. This helps to relieve emotional stress or physical pain.
Such loving relationships, especially marriages, need nurturing to stay strong and healthy.
Behaviors in a Successful Marriage
- Communicate clearly and don’t assume that your mate knows what you mean. They can’t read your mind. Try to give each other the benefit of the doubt when you do have a miscommunication.
- Be willing to try new things together. This may get one or both of you out of your old comfort zone and allow you to grow together to find new experiences.
- Be grateful for each other’s contributions to the relationship. It may be a gift of time for an unexpected date, help with chores or cooking, or anything else. Be sure to tell your spouse how much you appreciate them.
- Always encourage each other. Celebrate your wins together and comfort each other in your losses. Be a hero for each other.
- Respect one other. Show consideration for your spouse in front of others, including your children and extended family. If you don’t show respect for your spouse, why should they?
People who are compatible with each other share values, goals, and a sense of purpose. They may enjoy a similar sense of humor or other personality traits. (In Raising Families’ Leading Your Child to Success course, you’ll discover the keys to mental, spiritual, and emotional wellness.) This information supports the individuals in the relationship by helping them to create a loving and supportive environment where they can thrive together.
The hard truth is that close to 45 percent of the marriages in America today end in divorce. There are many problems and different reasons for each broken home. All couples experience worry about their health, safety, and financial resources. These concerns can grow to become overwhelming if they’re not managed. Worry over financial issues can cause stress that puts a strain on your marriage. (Discover how to ensure your financial success in the LYCTS course from Raising Families.)
Learning new ways to manage your money can lessen your financial worries, so you can focus on loving and supporting each other. With new tools and strategies for managing your money, you can avoid bad habits and the behavior that causes problems in relationships.
Habits to Avoid
- Trying to change your spouse or the way they do things. You can’t change them; just love them.
- Not giving enough space to your spouse to do their things on their own. Give them their space and your trust.
- Consistent criticism of the ideas or actions of your spouse. Care enough to encourage them.
- Getting into a rut. Boredom may cause couples to lose interest in each other. Try to be spontaneous once in a while!
- Sweating the small stuff or having pet peeves about certain things. Get rid of the peeves, and go with the flow.
Show your love for each other every day, and stay in sync by holding hands.
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Tamie Neu
Tamie is the curriculum director for Raising Families. Bringing nearly 30 years of teaching experience, she saw firsthand that parent leadership is the most vital force in a child’s life. She has three sons and currently resides in West Texas.
In her free time she loves reading non-fiction and playing with her grandson. Read full bio >>