We all know that marriage requires a lot of effort to thrive, and when marital needs aren't being met, it's easy to slip into bad habits. These habits can lead to big problems which can be extremely hard to solve.
However, you can avoid these problems simply by putting effort into your marriage. As it turns out, an incredible marriage is built on little efforts and actions. Without them, your marriage can't survive.
Here are 15 things every marriage needs:
1. A whole lot of patience
Marriage requires patience - and a lot of it. Practice finding the good traits in your spouse when they're driving you crazy, and learn to love their flaws. With practice, patience will come much easier.
2. Complete trust
You should trust your sweetheart with your life. It's hard to recover after a breach of trust, but you can get it back. When you do, you'll realize your marriage is stronger than ever.
3. Respect
Be respectful of your spouse. Take the time to really listen to what they have to say and take their thoughts into consideration before making a decision. Always talk about them in the highest regard (even if they did something that made you angry).
4. A little flirty fun
Even though you're married, you should never stop trying to impress your sweetheart and win their affections.
5. Small physical gestures
A kiss on the forehead or a hug from behind can make a world of difference for your relationship. Small, loving gestures on a regular basis can help strengthen your marriage.
6. Good, healthy intimacy
Intimacy is so important in marriage. Having that physical connection with your spouse on a regular basis will help improve your relationship on such a deep, personal level.
7. Vulnerability
In order to have a successful relationship, you need to be a little vulnerable sometimes. Sharing those sensitive sides with each other will help build an unshakeable foundation for your relationship.
8. Mutual understanding
You and your sweetheart should do your best to understand each other. Always listen intently and make sure you're on the same page - it'll save a lot of heartache and drama.
9. So much forgiveness
You will disappoint each other (no matter who you married, it's inevitable). But you have to be able to forgive if you want a happy marriage.
10. Genuine apologies
This goes along with the previous point - if you hurt your spouse (which you will at some point), you should always apologize.
11. Comfort and safety
You deserve to feel comfortable in your relationship. You should never feel like you're in physical or emotional danger, so work with your spouse to create a safe place out of your marriage.
12. Open books
Tell each other everything - the good, the bad and the ugly.
13. Honesty in ALL things
Like I said before, it's hard to recover from a breach of trust; complete honestly will minimize those disappointments. Practice being completely honest with each other in everything you do.
14. Tons of fun and laughter
What's a marriage without fun and laughter?
15. Deep, true love
The most important thing you can do for your marriage is to love each other more than anything else in the entire world.
Some of these take longer than others to develop, but each one is incredibly important for a happy relationship. Work on these traits with your spouse and work to make your marriage stronger. It might not be easy, but it'll be SO worth it in the end.
