Top 10 Marriage Tips

Top 10 Marriage Tips
  1. DO make sure your words and actions have a point; that they go toward an outcome you want to create. If your words, actions or thoughts aren’t directly connected to the result you want, think of them as irrelevant.
  2. DO realize “feelings” change and are unreliable for making decisions. Just because you have a feeling doesn’t mean everybody needs to know about it.
  3. DON’T value being independent in your marriage – value becoming ‘intra-dependent’. That means get very good at being part of a TEAM, which is a different skill set than only considering yourself.
  4. DO demonstrate the kind of relationship you want your children to have – they’re watching! You are the role models they will copy. Ask if you’d like their future spouse to treat them like you treat yours.
  5. DO ‘cleave from your family of origin’. Your extended family is secondary now. You can’t be a good, loyal spouse when you can’t give up being a good, loyal child.
  6. DON’T go to friends or your family for advice in your marriage – it is not enough that they support you. They need to support your marriage. And most don’t. “The No. 1 reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family, and neighbors.” Napoleon Hill
  7. DON’T stop dating each other. Make ‘couple time’ a priority. Don’t allow distance to grow. By the way, dates don’t include negative talk about money, kids or problems…remember?
  8. DO take responsibility to control your anger, criticisms and judgmental attitudes. The Golden Rule is a good thing to keep in mind… treat others as you would want to be treated.
  9. DO require an ‘off-limits’ space between kids and parents. Kids shouldn’t have 100% access to parents space, possessions or attention. Children are not supposed to be equal to adults in rank, authority, power or control.
  10. DON’T keep dragging the past into your present. You can’t change the past, and everyone has mis-managed it. Focus only on what you want next, not what happened before.