Does Your Marriage Have These Key Ingredients?

By: Jake Jafims Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Sadly the chance that your marriage will fail in the first 5 years is 50%. Why do some marriages fail while others succeed? There are many different reasons. But, most successful marriages seem to embrace these key ingredients.

Commitment to making the relationship work is the first key. Commitment carries many negative connotations. When you here the word "commitment", what do you picture in your head? Many people picture a nagging spouse, unbearable responsibilities, or even a ball and chain. But, if you want your marriage to thrive, you must be committed. Committed to the same value and goals that your spouse is committed to.

Communication is the next important ingredient in a happy marriage. Not the "How was your day, dear?" sort of communication either. You must learn to communicate on a deep level with your spouse. This means sharing your private thoughts and feelings. It is natural for you to feel uncomfortable at first. With practice it will become easier and easier. In fact, most couples soon look forward to this time together.

Meeting the emotional and physical needs of your spouse. This is another area that suffers when communication is missing. Without communication you are forced to guess what your partner needs. Unfortunately, most of us end up guessing wrong.

Find a good balance between work and home. For many couple, this is the most difficult part of their relationship to get right. This is not only a time issue but also a "mind" issue. Too many people spend their time at work thinking about being home only to get home and think about work.

Have a good sense of humor. Spend time laughing with your spouse. All marriages have rough spots and setbacks. A sense of humor helps put these into perspective. The same challenges that pull one marriage apart can make your marriage stronger, if you and your spouse can find the humor in the situation.

Does your marriage have all or most of these ingredients? If not, it might be time to make some changes. Just pick the area that seem to need the most improvement and start working on it. You will be doing this work to strengthen the most important relationship of your life.

If you feel unsure about where to begin, don't worry. There are many resources available to you. You might want to start with your local library or book store. There are also many resources available online to help you build the relationship you desire.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: If your marriage is missing one or more of these ingredients it may be time to get some help. Jake Jafims is a relationship expert based in Cleveland, Ohio. His website GetMarriageHelpNow.com is dedicated to bringing together the best online marriage help products.