Marriage can be a lot of work, but it can also be the greatest thing ever. It takes a lot of commitment and good, daily habits. To keep a relationship healthy and thriving, each member in a relationship has needs that should be met every single day.
Here are seven needs your spouse has that you should be meeting every day:
1. To hear that you love them
They say that actions speak louder than words, which is true in most cases. Even if your actions tell your spouse that you love them, it's always nice to hear those three words said aloud. It doesn't have to be dramatic and grandiose, but you should make it a habit of saying it every single day, whether it's when you wake up in the morning or come home from work.
2. Physical affection
This is a key player in any marriage, and you two should be 100 percent comfortable physically with each other. You don't necessarily need to be physically intimate every day, but you should make it a habit to hold hands regularly or have some kind of physical connection, like putting your hand on their knee while you watch a movie.
This kind of habit helps your spouse to know that you love them, enjoy their presence and want to be close to them.
3. Gratitude
So many couples have the same old argument: She nags too much, he never helps around the house, etc. Instead of focusing on yourself and your own needs that aren't being met, be grateful towards your spouse. Turn outward and focus on all the good that they do, and reasons why you love them. You'll feel more love to your partner and your spouse will be happy feeling that extra love.
4. Respect
Your spouse needs to feel valued in your life. If you're making a difficult decision, you two should talk through it together. Work together towards common goals. If you have conflicting opinions on something, you should both give each other the opportunity to be heard and work to reach a compromise.
When you see your sweetheart as more of an assistant than an equal partner, they're going to be unhappy with that lack of respect. Turn that around and treat your spouse with respect.
5. Variety
If you've ever listened to or read David Foster Wallace's "This is Water," (or, you know, lived life as an adult,) you know that life can get repetitive and mundane pretty quickly. If you and your spouse do the exact same thing every single day, that doesn't help.
Your spouse needs your help to give their life a little more flavor. This happens by adding a bit of variety to your daily schedule; go on a spontaneous date and explore someplace new. Make a "no kids allowed" blanket fort in your living room. Watch a movie you've never seen before, but put it on mute and make up your own lines.
When you two know how to have fun even in the thick of adult life, you'll be closer because of it - and you'll both be so happy, wondering how you got so lucky with your love.
6. Honesty and openness
It's not uncommon for the wife to be more communicative in a marriage. But women desperately need their husbands to communicate with them, and men need to be able to be honest with their wives - even if they express themselves a little differently.
You two should be completely honest with each other. Trust each other and be comfortable opening up and being vulnerable. Do this, and your marriage will be unbreakable.
7. Commitment
When you two said "I do," you promised to be with them in all times. Good and bad, sickness and health, rain or shine and so forth. You promised that you would prioritize your marriage and family above all, so hold yourself to that promise. Your marriage is more important than your job, your friends and even your parents.
Take time each day to make sure your sweetheart knows they're the most important thing to you. They're likely to return the favor, and this joy and faith you share in each other will help you get through all the ups and downs of married life.
When you make the effort to meet these needs on a daily basis, you build up an armor for your marriage that can handle anything life throws at you.
