Couples can exhibit bad behaviors, which can lead to the breakdown of a marriage. But there are good behaviors that can strengthen and build up your marital bond. Here are three simple behaviors that are the key to a successful, loving marriage.
Whenever you want to improve anything in your life, you first have to make a decision that it’s a priority for you. Once the decision is clear and made, there are actions you must take, leading you to the goal.
In marriage, there are also a few key decisions that need to be made. There are negative behaviors that impact a relationship, which some couples fail to correct. Poor communication, a lack of sacrifice and failure to support one another are the ones that stand out most to me.
There are nine behaviors, however, that should be present in every relationship. Furthermore, they are pretty easy to master if a couple chooses to embrace them, so start today.
Treat your spouse like more than a spouse
See him/her beyond the romance. If you thought of your spouse as a best friend, support system and true partner in life, your behavior would reflect that line of thinking. A few ways to demonstrate these behaviors are:
- Talk to your spouse about any and everything
- Lean on your spouse when you’re going through challenges or stressful times
- Consult your spouse when big decisions have to be made regarding your family
Be vulnerable with your spouse
In order to be vulnerable, you have to be willing to go beneath the surface and share what you wouldn’t normally share with any other person. Your deepest fears, your biggest regrets and all of your hopes for the future should be disclosed to your spouse. A few ways to demonstrate these behaviors are:
- Trust your spouse with your emotions and truth
- Create a judge-free space for your spouse to be vulnerable as well
- Erase any negative thoughts that may surface by your being vulnerable
Give your all to your marriage
Again, it’s about making a decision based on what’s most important to you. For my husband and me, we decided divorce is not an option. Once we came to that conclusion, we began to work harder to find solutions to our biggest dilemmas. Because that was the choice we made, we both give our all to establish peace, love and accord in our marriage. A few ways to demonstrate this behavior is:
- Make your spouse’s happiness your ultimate goal
- Take excellent care of your half of your relationship
- Put your needs second in your marriage
The above are just a few easy behaviors couples can start practicing today. However, prior to beginning, you must make a decision to make your marriage a priority. Once you do, everything else will naturally fall into place, making each of these behaviors easy to display.
BMWK, what are additional love behaviors couples should master?