Marriage is a ride—sometimes easy, sometimes rough—but it can be incredibly fulfilling when both individuals are willing to grow together. Strong, long-term marriages aren’t happenstance; they take work, understanding, and wisdom. The following are ten strategies that have worked to deepen your relationship and create a partnership that flourishes through life’s seasons.
10. Grow Spiritually Together
For most couples, a shared spirituality or greater mission is the foundation of their union. Through prayer, values, or acts of service, becoming connected to something greater than yourselves can solidify your connection and provide meaning to your marriage. A spiritual bond can bring peace during times of turmoil and jubilation during the everyday moments, creating a unity that transcends the common.
9. Practice Patience and Spend Quality Time with Each Other
Patience is not so much waiting—it’s how you move through obstacles and engage with the other person’s flaws. Those couples that make good use of time spent with one another—be it date nights, shared activities, or even mundane daily activities—amass a bank of good memories that tighten their bond. The effort you make to actually be there with your partner rewards you with long-term happiness and durability.
8. Be Open and Honest with Each Other
Honest and open communication is the foundation of a successful marriage. Discussing your feelings, expectations, and fears prevents misunderstandings and provides a safe environment for both of you. Active listening, being empathetic, and addressing challenging conversations all of a sudden can make each day easier and enable both of you to walk through major transitions together.
7. Practice Appreciation and Gratitude
Little acts of appreciation do count. Happy couples always appreciate, admire, and respect one another, either with “thank you,” admiration of effort, or doing little acts of appreciation. Little daily routines—such as going over three things you like about the other person—can change the emotional temperature of a relationship and leave both individuals feeling valued.
6. Know and Speak Each Other’s Love Language
We all get love in different ways. Some by words, some by action, gifts, quality time, or touch. Knowing your partner’s love language—and making the effort to speak love in a way that will resonate with them—deepens your emotional bond and makes both partners feel deeply understood and valued.
5. Check In Emotionally and Listen Actively
Take time to check in with your partner about how you’re feeling, what you’re sensing, or what’s upsetting you. This keeps you attuned. Active listening—complete attention, paraphrasing what you’ve heard, and responding with empathy—lets your partner know that you’re concerned about his or her point of view and are dedicated to building the relationship.
4. Develop Emotional Intelligence
The most important aspect of a healthy marriage is being aware of your own feelings and empathizing with your partner. Emotional intelligence requires self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication. Building practices like mindfulness, journaling, or honest talk about feelings can make it stronger, turning your relationship into a stronger support group and understanding partnership.
3. Use Empathy and Forgiveness When Dealing with Conflict
Differences will always arise, but to meet them with understanding can be the difference. Problem-solving together rather than finger-pointing. Forgiveness and release of bitterness open doors to healing and learning. Confronting difficulty as a time to learn more about one another makes your relationship stronger over time.
2. Support Each Other’s Growth
A healthy marriage is one where both partners feel empowered to achieve their own goals. Celebrate each other’s successes, support each other through failures, and actually cheer each other on. Supporting each other’s professional and personal growth supports respect for each other and a sense of camaraderie that keeps your marriage healthy.
1. Choose Love, Even When It’s Hard
Maybe the strongest principle is the deliberate decision to love despite adversity. This is taking on vulnerability, releasing ego, and choosing your mate even when it’s not easy. This decision to love can take adversity and make it a possibility for greater intimacy and connection. This new mindset and commitment to your marriage can infuse the relationship with new life, showing that love is more of a choice than a situation.