6 Qualities in Successful Marriages

Categories: Marriage Tips

By Denny Freeman on November 6, 2017

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Dear Brides:

Marriage is the only family relationship in United States today that people generally enter by choice. We cannot choose our parents, siblings, grandparents and so forth, but we choose our spouse. Unfortunately, more than half the people who marry eventually divorce. So many of our choices do not work out well.

The average length of a marriage that ends in divorce in the United States is seven years*. Marriage can be very risky and requires hard work to achieve and maintain a happy marriage.

So what are the qualities of a strong successful marriage?
Here are six qualities that are common in happy, emotionally healthy relationships.

Commitment. Key words to commitment are trust, honesty, dependability, and faithfulness. These qualities will always improve a marriage relationship.
Appreciation and affection. Key words here are caring for each other, learning to enjoy one another as a friend, showing respect for each other, and having playful fun in the relationship. I usually remind couples to ask, “Are we having fun yet?”
Positive communication. Key words here are sharing feelings with one another. Giving compliments everyday and avoiding playing the blame game. Learning how to compromise together and to disagree with one another without being disagreeable.
Spending time together. I call it “quality time together” especially when life gets very busy. Good things take time. Having a good relationship takes time. It’s important to make time to learn to enjoy each other’s company by having fun together.
Spiritual wellbeing. I would recommend a faith in God through Jesus Christ. Also, key words would be having faith and compassion for one another. Sharing the same values would encourage oneness in your relationship.
Ability to cope with stress and conflict. Being adaptable and growing through crises together. Being resilient and open to change. This is an area couples are usually unprepared for, but conflict is always a part of the relationship. Learning to respond and not react to one another is a key point to a healthy relationship.

Couples can provide intimacy and closeness, but they can also create disagreement and conflict. Our focus should always be on how individuals can work together to develop and maintain satisfying personal relationships both within their relationship and in their family. The goal of healthy and happy relationships is well worth the effort.

Until next time,

FarmerD

*Source of stat: *Olson, David H., DeFrain, John & Olson, Amy. Building Relationships, Developing Skills for Life. Minneapolis: Life Innovations, Inc, 1999.