Divorce may have become an option, but your marriage still has a fighting chance at coming back from the brink. When your marriage feels broken, but divorce does not feel like the best option, here’s what you can do to save it.
Make a Plan
If you see trouble brewing in your marriage, don’t sit on it hoping it will work itself out; it rarely does.
Your marriage might not look like it did in the past, but your new marriage can have just as much joy and love. It may even be new and improved because you are older and wiser.
Stop Expecting Your Partner to Complete You
Don’t get marriage advice from romantic comedies, where one partner does all the work to fulfil the other. Your spouse should not be responsible for making you happy because you are more than capable of doing that yourself.
If you find yourself resenting your partner for their lack of effort in making you happy, you should take a long, hard look at yourself to discover why that is. When you find the answers about why you are so dependant on your partner for your happiness, you can then cut them some slack.
Don't Assume You Know What Your Partner is Thinking
When your partner asks if you have walked the dogs or if the floor is clean, you immediately get riled up. You assume the question is a personal attack on you about not doing your fair share. After all, you have work and a life as well. If they are so concerned, why don’t they do it themselves?
Long-term couples start to assume they know what the other is thinking, often leading to arguments. Unfortunately, these altercations are a product of what’s going on in your own head, with no basis in reality.
When your partner asks you these types of questions, seek clarification about why they are asking. When you do this, you will open a path to effective communication.
Hug Often
Intimate contact is not just about sex. Intimacy can be simple as holding hands, hugging, or kissing. Kiss each other good morning, and hold hands while shopping or going for walks. Make physical contact while you are relaxing on the couch watching TV.
Even brief physical contact will release chemicals like oxytocin, which are the brain’s pleasure-inducing hormones. The brief contact enhances the intimacy in your relationship and can help strengthen the emotional bond.
Show Your Appreciation
When your partner does something nice, or even when doing a chore, be sure to show your appreciation and thank them for it.
Tell them how great they look in that new jacket or dress, or how well their haircut suits them. A text your partner receives at work telling them you can’t wait to see them will brighten their day.
You may have noticed that many of the above are the things you used to do when you were young and head over heels in love. You can use them again to fan the flames and create a new romance.
Consider Marriage Counselling
There are tons of little things you can do that will add up to save your marriage from divorce. However, depending on your circumstances, a session with a marriage counselling service can provide even more great advice and motivation for getting your marriage back on track.
Better Marriage is the best place to learn everything you need to know about saving your marriage. We will tell you how to keep your marriage alive and well. Read More about Save My Marriage At Better Marriage