Marriage is full of ups, downs, happy moments and challenging moments. It’s just simply part of life. We all face challenges and experience good times. If there was a magic wand that made everything blissful, we would all use it and remain in a state of euphoria. You would see magic wands swinging all over the place, as if we were little carefree kids again.
However, since there’s no magic wand, we must learn how to enjoy every moment, minimize the challenges, and stay on the happy side of marriage.
Here are four tools to put into your marriage tool box. Use them as part of your regular routine. They may help you, as you go through your married life.
1) Recognize that happiness is a choice and it is your responsibility to choose happiness. Happiness will not choose you. You must choose it.
2) Have high expectations for your marriage. Let them be an expectation that you and your mate decide on together. Have expectations that you can both live up to and both be happy with.
3) Spend time enjoying your mate’s company. Try to refrain from a mundane routine that only includes activities to keep your household running and put some fun stuff in there. Do something JUST for the fun of it.
4) Invest in your relationship by taking a class together, going to a marriage enrichment seminar, or reading a book on marriage. Do something that continues to grow you as individuals and partners in your relationship. You can do this by taking an online class like the BMWK Relationship Academy or you can locate a session in your local area.
Happy is a state of mind that overflows into your state of being. Set your thoughts on things that are positive and joyful. This is not to say the challenges don’t exist. A few bumps in the road will come, however, choose to let the good times override the bumps.
If the bumps in the road have turned into something greater, seek appropriate counsel. Get the help you need so that you can remain on the happy side of marriage.
BMWK: Have you read any good marriage books lately or attended any workshops that we need to know about?