What Principles and Practices Strengthen Marriage?

Strong families begin with strong marriages and will strengthen communities, states, and nations. To have a strong marriage, a couple must start with a strong foundation. Rachael Pace shared four principles to build a strong foundation for marriage and twenty time-tested and proven things that will strengthen marriages. 

·         Four essential principles for building a strong foundation for a marriage:

1. Commitment

Commitment is the part of the relationship that provides safety and security, so couples can express their thoughts, feelings, and desires openly….

A key sign of a committed relationship is in being the person your partner needs on any given day.

If you need to be the strong one, be the strong one. If your partner feels needy, show up and give them what they need.

Be faithful, be consistent, and be somebody that your partner can rely on to keep your word.

2. Communication

Communication is the key to a happy and prosperous relationship. It is a very important part, especially where love is involved.

It is the act of conveying meanings from one entity or group to another through the use of mutually understood signs, symbols, and semiotic rules.

Relationship communication skills don’t come easy for everyone. Some couples will have to work on their techniques for years. But over time, they will be able to speak openly and honestly with one another.

3. Patience

Well, patience is the ability to tolerate or restrain yourself from reacting in anger or frustration.

Patience in marriage is fundamental for your relationship to flourish. To such an extent, that it’s one of the significant marriage skills….

4. Intimacy

Intimacy involves the expression of our most profound, and most vulnerable parts of ourselves, which includes our deepest hopes, fears, dreams, thoughts, feelings, and pain. These sensitive feelings are tough to express.

Real intimacy is vital to strengthen a marriage and keep it thriving. Without it, marriages may morph into routine, roommate-like living situations, which is hardly satisfying for either partner.

The need for intimacy in marriage is as important as the need for love and trust to build a healthy and fulfilling relationship….

·         Twenty suggestions for strengthening a marriage:

1. Get rid of “toxic” relationships in your life.

A toxic relationship is one that demands more than it gives….

2. Work together as a team instead of competing with one another.

… face life’s challenges as a team instead of competing to see who can handle difficult situations better or more often….

In marriage, couples are to complement and not compete with each other.

3. Encourage and uplift your spouse regularly.

To have a strong marriage, it is first necessary for your spouse to feel good about themselves….

4. Perform kind gestures for your spouse.

We all love to be pampered and/or spoiled by our loved ones and one of the best ways to show someone you care is to do something thoughtful….

5. Enjoy alone time.

As human beings, spending time alone is a necessity for achieving peace and clarity. Spend plenty of time with your spouse but don’t forget to take time out for yourself as well.

6. Adopt a pet.

Pets are known for bringing happiness to a home and can even help strengthen your marriage….

7. Plan a date night either once a week or a month.

A date night can be as simple as having dinner at a local diner, a picnic, or going on a short walk at your favorite place during the weekend….

8. Make plans that suit both spouses in the relationship.

… Try finding out what your partner enjoys and try participating in the same – your partner will appreciate the gesture and do the same for you next time.

9. Spice things up in the bedroom.

A “happy sex life” is ultimately an underlying key for the success of any marriage. Both partners must be fully satisfied in the bedroom and it is great to try new things or “spice things up.” …

10. Have meaningful and open conversations with your spouse.

Build upon your communication skills by allotting a set time for open discussions. During this time, nothing is off-limits and both spouses agree to only use words that are kind and never insulting; neither person can get mad, angry, or upset.

If this were to occur, the conversation should be closed and revisited during the next set time.

11. Don’t stress about the little things.

… Stressing about little things that hardly matter is not a good practice and usually emerges in a relationship from either partner’s obsession with those little things.

12. Reminisce together.

Reminiscing together can help the two of you reconnect and remember why you fell in love….

Reminiscing about the good times is one of the best ways to bring romance back into a relationship and strengthen a marriage.

13. Take responsibility for your actions.

… It makes more sense to acknowledge your faults and ask for help from your partner.

14. Leave the past in the past.

If something happened many years ago, don’t bring it up now. Rather stick to the topic at hand. An essential part of any marriage is being able to forgive each other and move one….

15. Have fun.

Life can be challenging, demanding, busy…. Despite this, or better yet in spite of this, it’s important to create the time and space in your relationship to have fun.

16. Show unconditional positive regard.

Show unconditional positive regard for your partner so they know that your love for them is not dependent on circumstances….

17. Talk about sex.

Don’t just have sex but have conversations about it. Talk about patterns, likes, dislikes, desires, fantasies, etc….

18. Accommodate each other’s needs.

Always be flexible; change occurs in every relationship. Accept that you can’t always have things your way, things are not going to always go as planned, or how you want them to go.

19. Learn how to manage conflict.

There are some conflicts you may not ever resolve, but you can learn to manage them by coming up with agreeable solutions, compromising, agreeing to disagree, and letting go.

20. Love yourself.

            For successful relationships, you must love yourself first before you love another. You cannot                 give what you do not have….