A happy,
healthy marriage can be a cause of strength and joy for you, but you will only
get out of it what you put into it. If you begin developing healthy habits in
your marriage today, the investment will definitely pay off later.
if you
learn these admirable habits now, you are not only going to make your marriage
simple to live with, you are going to make it a pleasure to live with! Start
learning these seven habits of a healthy, happy marriage today.
1- Let
it go: If you are a
mom, you are always right. This attitude can be the downfall of a marriage.
Whether you are right or not is never the issue. The real issue is if you are
going to allow the issue to pass. You don't need to be right every time. In
fact, you don't ever need the recognition of being right. Let it go. If an
argument begins to surface, don't allow it to do damage. Be willing to be wrong
(even if you are right). Just refuse to argue. There have been plenty of times
when I knew that I knew that I knew I was right. And instead of arguing, I just
said a simple, "okay, honey!" Being right is not nearly as important
as making your marriage work.
2- Pour
on the sugar :
There is no getting around it, men are known for their egos. Instead of
fighting it, work with it. Go heavy with the complements. I remember one time
when I really wanted to watch a movie and Blair could not figure out a way to
hook up the new system we had just bought. He was ready to give up when I said,
"You're always so smart with this kind of stuff. I have no idea how you do
it, but you always figure out a way to make it work. You amaze me." I
don't know how he did it, but in less than 20 minutes, I was watching that
movie! Everything tastes better with a pinch of sugar, so lay it on thick. Even
if you have to search high and low, find something you can compliment him on
and do it-a lot!
3- Put his needs first: This is the best habit to have in a
marriage. Try it for 30 days and see for yourself if it doesn't work wonders.
Always put his needs first. For some reason, "serving" has gotten a
bad rap in recent years. But there is real strength in learning to serve others
in love. And it always comes back to bless you in ways you could have never
expected. Try it for yourself. Make him a cup of coffee in the morning. Go
ahead and iron those clothes for him to wear to work. I always fill up the tank
in Blair's car when I'm using it to run errands on the weekends. These kinds of
actions are not signs of weakness, but signs of strength. Only someone who has
a rock-solid character would ever be able to serve truly another in love
without expecting anything in return. He may not reciprocate immediately, but
just give it time. He will.
4- Don't nag and don't threat: The only thing nagging and
threatening will do in a marriage is push those two people further and further
apart. Don't let it happen. Sure, there are some things you wish he would do,
but nagging will not ever work. If you really want something to change, try to
sandwich the request between a compliment and an offer. For example, if you
want him to pick up his dirty clothes from the bathroom floor, here's how you
may present it.
* First,
the compliment: You are such a huge help around the house.
* Second,
the request: Do you think you could just toss those clothes in the hamper when
you take them off?
* Third,
the offer: Is there something I can do for you to make it easier? Maybe move
the hamper closer?
Now, here's
the trick. If he still doesn't do it, let it go. Go ahead and pick them up and
toss them in for him (without telling him you did it). Remember, when you serve
with love you will be blessed in return. Just be the better person and let it
go. It's just a little bit of effort, really, and you will be building a better
marriage because it. Accept your husband as he is without expecting or
demanding a change.
5- Honor
him-on and off the court: One mistake a lot of moms makes in their marriage is to not truly honor
their husbands. A husband and wife should always honor each other in a
marriage. You could say, "why should I honor him if he doesn't honor
me?" Well, mama, it's got to start somewhere. Be the better person. Noah
Webster's 1828 dictionary provides this definition of the word, 'honor.' A
testimony of esteem; any expression of respect or of high estimation by words
or actions. To honor someone means you hold them in high esteem, with great
respect and high value. You cannot badmouth your husband to your friends or
gripe about him in front of your kids and maintain honor in your marriage. Honour
has to be a quality that you have "on and off the court" when it
comes to your marriage. Build a habit of honouring your husband with your words
and your actions when you are with him and even when you are not.
6- Be
grateful: Gratitude
goes a long, long way in a marriage. When you can train your thoughts to be
grateful for your husband, you will be pulling more and more of that positive behaviour
out of him. It's a huge step in faith
that will pay off later. Don't focus on his faults. Find those qualities that
you love about your husband and let that be where your thoughts are centred. If
you only focus on what is going wrong, that is the only thing you are going to
be bringing out in your marriage. Instead, focus on what is going right!
7- Live
by the motto,"I'm better than that!" Whenever you feel that anger boiling or that
voice wanting to lash out, say this mantra to yourself: "I'm better than
that." You are better than demanding that you are right. You are better
than pulling the silent treatment. You are better than nagging and belittling.
You were created for a marriage that is fulfilling and exciting. It has to
begin somewhere, so let it begin with you. We live in a society that tears down
marriage left and right, so you need to be willing to fight for it.
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