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Maintaining Friendship In Marriage[/caption]
Long Lasting Marriages - What's the secret?
The secret to long lasting marriages for many couples is to stay friends with each other! Friendship is at the foundation of long lasting marriages because at its core are:
- a respect for the other
- a mutual enjoyment of fun, openness, and genuine interest in each other.
Creating Long Lasting Marriages Through Friendship
The first tip toward creating long lasting marriages is to:
- Remember why you fell in love in the first place!
What was it that drew you to each other? What did you enjoy about your spouse? What did you admire?
You might be surprised when you start to reflect on all of the things that drew you to each other in the first place, how this changes how you view each other. By incorporating this exercise into your daily thoughts, you are creating the potential to change your relationship.
Second tip is:
The fastest way to begin
eroding your friendship with your spouse is by not talking to each other. When we start holding things in and not discussing what's on our minds, we risk slowing feeling isolated by our spouse. And many couples report not feeling like they are friends anymore when this happens.
Communicating with your spouse helps you both feel important and special to each other. When you can share your days events and your interests, hopes, and dreams, you keep that curiosity and friendship growing.
Part of good communication with your spouse is also being a good listener. It's not just about talking! It's about listening too...
Have fun with each other. Bring the play back into your relationship. Allow your inner children to be friends! Meaning, if you were a child, would you enjoy playing with your partner - Do your inner children play well together? This might sound like a funny concept but it can be really helpful when you apply it!
There is such an openness when children play. A wanting to share, a wanting to spend time with each other - there is a lot - we as adults - can take from this - if we are open...
Sharing what you enjoy includes not only doing things you both enjoy doing together. But also sharing all of the things you enjoy doing individually. By allowing yourself to stay engaged in all of the things you're individually interested in, that you may or may not be doing together with your spouse, helps keep your uniqueness alive. Helps you share parts of yourself with each other...
Communication in Marriage
Communication in marriage - as you enter this new year - can be enhanced greatly by maintaining your friendship with one another. It's the key to a long lasting marriage...
Couples Therapy / Marriage Counseling Help is Available
If you're going through
difficult times in your marriage and would like to create a long lasting marriage but don't know where to start, you might consider starting
couples therapy or
marriage counseling with a
trained professional. You don't have to struggle alone any longer, help is available...
*Blog is intended for education and informational purposes only.
By:
Anna McElearney, LMFT, LPC, NCC