6 Relationship Principles from 30 Years of Marriage (Page 2)

3. Look at Your Spouse Selflessly

If you have a habit of holding your spouse responsible for your happiness, you definitely need to learn to take that responsibility upon yourself. However, remember that if you view your marriage as being mostly about your rights and what you get out of the bargain, in the long run you are going to end up bitter and disappointed.

On the other hand, if you see your marriage primarily as an opportunity to selflessly love and generously serve your wife or husband to the best of your ability, you will the reap long-lasting benefit of a strong and close relationship.

Don’t buy the lie that a 50/50 marriage is ideal. Instead, go for 100/100, where each of you holds nothing back and gives all you have to the other.

4. Look at Your Self Realistically

It pays to have a sober view of your self, being neither overly harsh nor blind to areas you need to work on. Dr. David Schnarch, a clinical psychologist and author of Passionate Marriage, describes marriage as the ultimate people-growing machine. I agree. Every healthy relationship grows and changes over time, and if you want your marriage to stay strong, you have to be willing to grow and change along the way too.

For the most part we don’t like change, but realize that you are a work in progress, as is your marriage. You are not yet fully all you can be, and neither is your relationship. Regardless of how great it has been, there is always more, but achieving more may require you to change and grow. You can remain pliable and teachable without losing who you are.

5. Look at Your Relationship Frequently

Watchfulness keeps you from becoming excellent roommates. It requires you to keep your eyes and your heart wide awake to all that is going on in and around you. Consistently ask questions like “how are we doing?” and “is there something more you need from me?”

Being watchful means keeping yourself and your marriage off of autopilot. Guard your thoughts about your spouse—cultivate thankfulness and fight against selfish thoughts. Work to eliminate emotional reactivity, and cultivate positive emotions like love and compassion. Stay attuned to your sexual relationship, fueling the fires of your desire and passion. Realize that what is or is not happening in the bedroom often mirrors the rest of your relationship. Make sure your spiritual relationship stays strong.

6. Look Up Continually

This is the last of the six principles, but for my wife and me it is also the most important. We are made up of body, soul, and spirit, and we are careful to keep the spiritual component of our marriage front and center, which means we keep the future of our marriage in God’s (or however you describe your personal spiritual beliefs) hands.

Whether you know him personally or not, God is for your marriage. He wants you to succeed. It is his desire that your relationship stay strong and endure long, and not just because you both made a lifelong covenant before him, but also because he wants your marriage to be a source of joy and strength, passion, and love.

Keep your eyes focused on him, trust in his plans for the future of your marriage, and believe that he has great things in store for you.

As you observe your marriage from these six viewpoints and refuse to accept the inevitability of marital decline, you will be able to declare, with confidence, that your best years as a couple are still in front of you. As we celebrate 30 years this week, my wife and I will be doing just that.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Kathy P.

2:58PM PDT on Oct 14, 2012

all but the last one. God. pah. but for those who like that stuff I guess it's okay . Thanks for the reminders

October 14
send a green star

Tamara S.

3:09PM PDT on Sep 16, 2012

Communication is key and looking at your relationship frequently goes a long way.

September 16
send a green star

Giana P.

3:10AM PDT on Sep 9, 2012

Mostly true, but each marriage has its special characteristics. Not one of them is the same like no two people are the same.

September 9
send a green star

Carolanne P.

12:03PM PDT on Sep 6, 2012

My hubby & I have been married 27yrs this fall. We met over 30yrs ago, May 1981. We have been together since teenagers & fall deeper in love with each other the older we grow. I agree with much of the above wise words.

September 6
send a green star

Yvette S.

6:14AM PDT on Sep 5, 2012

Wow! Congrats on 30 years (Kath on 40 years) Thanks for the heartwarming touching story and i wish you all the best Big X

September 5
send a green star

Kath P.

2:45AM PDT on Sep 5, 2012

I'll be married for 40 years this December. If 'the end of the world' happens as predicted our relationship will go out with as much intensity as it started ;-)

Angela J.

4:43PM PDT on Sep 4, 2012

Our oldest child is closing in on 40 with most of the other 6 not too far behind and I still think of my husband as my soulmate. I know he feels the same way about me. Marriage has been a wonderful ride!!

September 4
send a green star

Elaine A.

3:26PM PDT on Sep 4, 2012

The key to a good marriage is that both people never lose the freshness of the first time and never means always remember and keep forward in your mind, why you fell in love the first place.

Jessica C.

7:46AM PDT on Sep 4, 2012

Congrats on 30 years :)

Susan S.

7:40AM PDT on Sep 4, 2012

Well said.