Marriage can be beautiful, but it takes work to make it successful. It can be hard to know what advice to follow regarding marriage, especially if you’re just starting out. That’s why I’m sharing some of the best marriage tips from couples who have been together for 25+ years.
I’m no expert, but my husband and I are celebrating 25 years together in May, so we’ve certainly been through a lot of ups and downs together. I’m hoping that these tips will help you build a strong foundation for your marriage that will last for years.
1. Respect Your Partner
Respect is one of the most important aspects of any relationship, which also holds true in marriage. Respect your partner and their opinions, even if you disagree with them. Showing respect for your partner will go a long way in keeping your marriage healthy and happy.
2. Guard Your Heart
Guarding your heart against outside influences that could harm your relationship is crucial. This means avoiding engagement with people, or in activities that could damage the trust between you and your partner. Protecting your heart will help keep your marriage solid and secure.
3. God, Husband, Kids
This tip may seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating: prioritize God, husband, and kids (if applicable). Keeping God at the center of your marriage can ensure that you stay connected spiritually and emotionally. Additionally, making time for each other, despite the chaos of raising kids may help to keep the spark alive in your relationship.
4. Stop Talking And Listen
When communicating, it’s important to take turns speaking and listening without interruption or judgment. Listening is critical to understanding each other better and resolving conflicts peacefully and effectively.
This also applies when discussing complex topics such as finances or parenting styles; be sure to listen carefully before responding so that both parties feel heard and respected.
5. Gifts Are Important
Gifts can be a great way to show your partner that you care, as long as they aren’t just things you expect them to like or use. Instead, try giving gifts that show how much thought you put into the gift itself; this will make it clear that you care about your spouse rather than just what they can do for you.
If you’ve been married for a long time and want to surprise your partner with a thoughtful gift, what better way than to gift them with something that you know they will appreciate, or enjoy.
6. Don’t Let The Financials Get You Down
According to a family lawyer in Phoenix, “Finances are probably one of the biggest reasons why marriages fail. It’s hard to find a couple who doesn’t argue about money at some point, even if they don’t admit it. But there are ways to ensure that your financial situation doesn’t put a strain on your marriage and cause problems in the long run.”
What matters is your willingness to support your spouse, even when things are hard. It’s important to remember that marriage is a partnership and should not only benefit you; it’s also about helping each other out when times get tough.
7. Take an Interest in your Partner’s Interests
Taking an interest in something that matters to your partner shows them that you also care about their passions and hobbies! Taking an active interest in their interests can bring you closer together as a couple by creating shared experiences and memories that strengthen the bond between you two even further.
8. Your Marriage Is A “Competition” (But Not Against Each Other!)
This tip may sound counterintuitive, but it’s pretty helpful! Healthy competition between spouses can create positive energy within the relationship as long as clear boundaries are set up beforehand on acceptable behavior during competition time! This could involve playing board games together or competing against each other in sports – whatever works best for both of you!
9. Take A Few Seconds Each Day To Appreciate Each Other
It’s easy to get caught up in our daily lives without taking time out of our day-to-day routine to appreciate our partners for all that they do for us daily. Taking a few seconds each day to thank them or tell them how much they mean to us can go a long way toward strengthening our relationships with them over time.
“I love you” is a simple 3 word phrase that should be said daily.
10. Remember That Two Opposite Views Can Both Be Correct
It’s essential not only to remember this but also to practice it within our marriages! When we can recognize two opposite views without judging either, we create an open dialogue where both parties can freely express themselves without fear of being judged or criticized by their spouse. This helps foster mutual understanding between both parties involved.
11. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
It’s easy to let minor disagreements turn into big arguments if we’re not careful; instead, try not to sweat the small stuff too much. If something bothers either of you, talk it out calmly without getting angry or defensive. This will help ensure that both parties feel heard while avoiding unnecessary conflict, which could damage your relationship over time.
12. Deeply Understand Your Partner’s Inner World
The key here is getting into their headspace – try asking questions about how they’re feeling instead of assuming what they’re thinking or feeling based on past experiences with them (or anyone else!).
Doing so allows us to understand our partners better and empathize with their struggles more deeply, which helps create stronger bonds between us over time.
13. Honor Your Relationship’s Sense Of “We”
Honoring marriage’s “we” aspect means recognizing that although two individuals make up a couple, there is still one combined unit. This unit should always be respected regardless of disagreements between spouses because it ultimately binds both partners together in unity despite any differences they may have individually.
In summary, the key to having a healthy marriage is to keep in mind that you are not just “you” but also an essential part of your spouse’s life. When you can honor this fact by being mindful and understanding of each other’s needs, wants, and desires, then the relationship between you will become stronger and healthier over time!
