You know those couples who just seem to be doing everything
right? They navigate marriage with ease and make being a couple look so
effortless. Don't be fooled; a ton of effort goes into making any
relationship a great one. Here are seven things you can do every day to
make yours go the distance.
Joke
A long-lasting relationship shouldn't be so serious. Couples who
can laugh and joke together on a daily basis develop a deep friendship
that is essential in any marriage or relationship.
Compliment
Getting a little positive recognition for our efforts is
something we all crave. Many times, it's the people we are closest to
that we fail to recognize. Giving each other regular compliments on the
little things you love about them will really help your relationship go
the distance. "
You smell nice today," "Thanks for working so hard," and "
You're the best thing that's happened to me," are all good places to start.
Compromise
When you enter into a partnership, you become the other half to a
whole. Your desires, whims, and needs don't always come first and
sometimes conflict with the other person's. Anyone who has been in a
serious relationship knows that, in order for it to be a happy one, you
have to compromise. Your hubby loves sports or motorcycles? Sometimes
you have to hand over the remote, or take a daring ride. It's like a
see-saw: you each take turns getting what you want.
Spend Quality Time Together
You can't get to that diamond anniversary without spending a
little quality time together. At least once a week, schedule a night to
be with your special someone, sans kids. Go to dinner and a movie,
hold hands in public, catch a concert, or drop the kids off at grandma's
and enjoy some quality alone time in your own house.
Apologize
Two of the hardest words in the English language happen to be, "I'm sorry."
When conflicts arise, evaluate whether it is more important to be right, or more important to be happy. Don't hold onto old arguments. Don't wait for the other person to apologize first--you'll cause an unnecessary standoff that will cost you valuable time together. Be the first to put your pride in your pocket and say " I'm sorry" more freely. Besides, we all know, the sooner we apologize, the sooner we can start making up.
When conflicts arise, evaluate whether it is more important to be right, or more important to be happy. Don't hold onto old arguments. Don't wait for the other person to apologize first--you'll cause an unnecessary standoff that will cost you valuable time together. Be the first to put your pride in your pocket and say " I'm sorry" more freely. Besides, we all know, the sooner we apologize, the sooner we can start making up.
Listen, Process, and Act
A major complaint of couples everywhere is a lack of communication. "
He just doesn't listen to me," or "
I can't even talk to her without an overreaction." Effective communication essentially means: listen, process, then act.
First, listen, without interrupting to what the other person is saying. Don't react immediately. Take a moment to process and think about how you would like to respond. When you do respond, do so truthfully and earnestly. Lastly, act upon the request. If John voices his concern about Sarah's latest designer shoe shopping spree, Sarah should first listen, without getting defensive, then take a moment to process and think about how her spree affected John. Lastly, they can decide on a course of action they can both be happy with. {Sarah knows she simply can't live without the Manolo Blahniks, but agrees that the Jimmy Choo pumps can wait.}
First, listen, without interrupting to what the other person is saying. Don't react immediately. Take a moment to process and think about how you would like to respond. When you do respond, do so truthfully and earnestly. Lastly, act upon the request. If John voices his concern about Sarah's latest designer shoe shopping spree, Sarah should first listen, without getting defensive, then take a moment to process and think about how her spree affected John. Lastly, they can decide on a course of action they can both be happy with. {Sarah knows she simply can't live without the Manolo Blahniks, but agrees that the Jimmy Choo pumps can wait.}
Try Everyday To Make the Other Person Happy
The number one thing that couples who stay together do, every
single day is make each other happy. When you truly love someone, you
want to give them the best; you want them to be happy. When both of you
feel this way, you've conquered the secret to a long-lasting, healthy,
over-the-moon happy relationship.
Content from
Burnt Chess Set
No comments:
Post a Comment