Tips for Avoiding Divorce
With the number of divorces steadily climbing in most states in the U.S., you might think it’s only a matter of time before you get your own divorce. Fortunately, that’s not at all the case. In fact, in some places in the country, like Florida for example, divorce rates are actually decreasing. Maybe they know something the rest of the country doesn’t know. Whatever the main reason is behind Florida’s divorce decline, you can bet they also follow many of these tips for avoiding divorce.
Listen
Sometimes, the best thing you can do to keep your marriage strong is to simply listen to what the other person is saying. You don’t have to agree with it and you don’t need to even respond unless they ask you to. They may just be venting or trying to make you understand their point of view. Plus, when we speak before we’re really ready to, we can often say something we don’t mean, which can lead to additional hurt feelings and a damaged relationship.
How many people complain that their partner doesn’t listen to them? In fact, it’s a long-standing joke that men basically tune out their wives because they talk so much. Well, miscommunication and no communication lead to relationship problems when both people believe they know what the other person is thinking when they really don’t. Taking time to just listen can diffuse all sorts of potentially explosive situations.
Take Responsibility
One of the biggest problems in marriage is that both people want to be right all the time. Sometimes, it seems like it’s more important for them to be right than to save the relationship. It’s always easier to point the finger at the other person without really taking a good look at the role your own actions play. Taking responsibility for your part in marriage issues that come up goes a long way in calming down the other person and paving the way for meaningful conversation.
When you can stop blaming the other person and be accountable for your own part in an argument or situation, you’ll be able to get to a compromise and resolution much more quickly. Why spend all that time blaming each other when you can spend the time working on a solution instead?
Make Your Marriage a Priority
Priorities shift all the time during life, but if you really want your marriage to work, it has to be a top priority. It’s so easy to put your relationship with your partner on the back burner when you’re busy at work or in the middle of raising children, but if you don’t put your marriage first, it will eventually be the thing that suffers the most. When you were dating, your partner was likely the most important person in your life and they can feel discarded and ignored as other parts of your world creep in on your relationship. Those feelings can lead to resentment and eventually divorce.
Intentionally plan your calendar around spending time with your spouse and show them they are still important to you even if these other things are taking up your attention. Most things can wait until you satisfy your marriage’s needs first.
Conclusion
Not all marriages are salvageable, but most are, especially if you start following these tips early in your relationship. Don’t become a statistic. Pay attention to your marriage now and keep it going strong throughout the years.