1. Laugh Together.
Laughing together doesn’t cost a thing and it brings so much joy to you and your family. My husband instituted an activity in our home about 2 years ago. This activity is “9 seconds of dancing” At first the kid’s moaned and whined, but when they finally figured out that he was not going to back down, they started busting a move. Now for the laughing part: My husband doesn’t know how to dance so half of the time we are all watching him and laughing. He’s such a great sport. Figure out what you can do with your spouse every day to bring a full blown belly laugh on. Remember you can’t be mad when you are laughing.
2. Try to understand your spouse’s vantage point of the world.
Remember back when you were dating your spouse. How did it feel when they were interested in everything you said or did? They were trying to figure you out. When did this change, because I guarantee you are not the same person that they married. Although our foundation may be the same, because we grow with time, some of our views of things may have shifted a bit. So be interested in your spouse and ask questions about how they feel about life. Keep an open mind when talking with them about their interests and let them get to know yours.
3. Remind your spouse how attractive they are to you.
We all like to feel like we are attractive to our spouse. It is very important to communicate our desire for each other. We want our spouse to look to us for validation, so in doing this, is the way we can achieve that success.
When a couple experiences rejection from each other, it is hard for them to want to give complements. But this is a very important step to rebuild a relationship, and keep it strong.
Be authentic with your spouse when you complement them. Don’t be falsify your motives or words; your spouse won’t believe you and it will defeat the purpose.
4. Keep a clean slate every day.
This is a really important step in creating an honest healthy relationship. In your alone time, every day, talk about the things that are bothering you, and give your spouse the benefit of the doubt. My husband has done something that has helped us keep a clean slate, and not get mad at each other. He say’s “I know you didn’t do this on purpose and I know if you knew that it upset me you would have never done it, but…” This simple statement lets me know that he knows that I have his best interest in mind always. It keeps me from getting defensive and helps us get to a resolution fast.
5. Get spiritual together.
In a University of Chicago survey, regarding married couples, 75 percent of the Americans who pray with their spouses reported that their marriages are “very happy.” This is compared to 57 percent of those who don’t pray together. Those who pray together are also more likely to say they respect each other, and discuss their marriage relationship together
Talk about incorporating a simple grace at dinnertime, or maybe some soul-searching meditation as a couple. Partner’s that routinely pray together say that their shared spiritual life helps to keep them closer.
