Growing Your Marriage
Testinga Explore resources on growing your marriage, expressing love, and building strong communication and conflict management skills.
Building a Strong Marriage
Marriage is a journey and it takes daily effort to build a strong marriage. Read on to find tips on how to do so:
1. Communicate regularly
- Set aside time to talk to each other regularly.
- Share with each other what is happening, and any concerns or worries you may have. This will help both of you grow in your understanding of each other.
- Pay full attention to each other and put away any distractions (e.g. phone, emails). If you have children, you may wish to have these conversations when your children are asleep.
- When there are disagreements, look for the common ground between the both of you and try to compromise. Find more tips on managing conflict here.
2. Show appreciation
- Regularly express what you appreciate about each other.
- You do not have to perform grand gestures; consistent displays matter more (e.g. sending an affectionate text message during the day, thanking your spouse for doing chores).
- This helps both of you to create a positive view of each other in your relationship.
3. Share moments together
- Have fun together and create shared memories.
- Create shared habits in your marriage (e.g. going for walks together, having dinner without the television on).
- Sharing these moments together as part of your routine helps both of you spend time with each other even when things get busy or stressful.
It is important to take the first step and allow your spouse to reciprocate. Regularly practicing some of these tips can help to build a strong foundation in your marriage, which will help buffer against stressors when they come.
If you and your spouse are experiencing frequent fights and arguments in your marriage, you may wish to seek professional help. Find out more about seeking professional help here.
Pause and Reflect
When were the best times in your relationship/marriage?
When was the last time you and your spouse worked through a difficulty together?
What are some things you and your spouse can do to strengthen your marriage?