People sometimes say that marriage is complicated. I don’t think that’s true, though. The reality is, anything in life can be complicated if that’s what you make it. I think marriage can be simple if you approach it with a certain level of mindfulness.

It’s probably fair to say that most people who get married hope and plan for a happy marriage. After all, we can all be miserable on our own, right? But what does being happy mean anyway? Well, that’s often where the problem lies. People don’t take the time to define what happiness means for them, and to also learn more about what happiness means for the person they vowed to be with forever.

Once each person knows what makes him or her happy as an individual, they can begin identifying what makes them happy as a couple as well as what can help them live happily ever after. And happily ever after may not look the same for everyone. Frankly, it shouldn’t. We are all different and creating a marriage that will last can only happen if we embrace what makes our relationships unique.

As important as it is to know what to do to create a happy life with your spouse, you have to also be pretty clear on what you shouldn’t do. Some behaviors and habits actually move us away from the happiness we desire.

So in our pursuit of happily ever after, what are some things we should stay clear of?

[imagebrowser id=431]