A Happy Marriage: What is the primary requirement?

A successful marriage takes commitment, time and sacrifice. It is not a bed of roses, although it seems like in movies and novels where couples live happily forever. But it doesn’t happen in real life. Like any other valuable thing in life, one must invest time, energy, blood, and sweat to make the marriage work and build a strong foundation. Here are some of the things one spouse can do to make the marriage work.

At its core, love is a decision to be committed to another person. It is far more than a fleeting emotion portrayed on television, the big screen, and in romance novels. Feelings come and go, but a proper decision to be committed lasts forever, defining healthy marriages. Marriage is a decision to be achieved through the ups and the downs, the good and the bad. When things are going well, commitment is easy. But true love is displayed by remaining committed even through the trials of life.

We all have weaknesses, and relationships always reveal these faults quicker than anything else on earth. An essential thing of a healthy marriage is the ability to admit that you are not perfect, that you will make mistakes, and need forgiveness. Holding an attitude of superiority over your partner will bring about resentment and prevent your relationship from moving forward. If you struggle in this area, write down three things your partner does better than you, this simple exercise should help you stay humble. Repeat as often as necessary.

Because no one is perfect, patience and forgiveness will always be required in a marriage relationship. Successful marriage partners learn to show patience and forgiveness to their partners. They humbly admit their faults and do not expect perfection from their partner. They do not bring up past errors to hold their partner hostage. And they do not seek to make amends or get revenge when mistakes occur. So if you are holding onto a past hurt from your partner, forgive them. It will set your heart free.

Honesty and trust become the foundation for everything in a successful marriage. But unlike most of the other essentials on this list, trust takes time. You can become selfless, committed, or patient in a moment, but faith always takes time. Trust is only built after weeks, months, and years of being whom you say you are and doing what you say you’ll do. It takes time, so start now — and if you need to rebuild trust in your relationship, you’ll need to work even more challenging.

Healthy marriage partners communicate as much as possible. They also discuss kids’ schedules, grocery lists, utility bills, and their dreams. But they don’t stop there. They also communicate hopes, dreams, fears, and anxieties. They don’t just discuss the changes in the kid’s life; they also discuss the changes taking place in their hearts and souls. These are the basic requirements of a happy and successful marriage. If one is doing this kind of thing, the result will be a happy marriage which is the most significant predictor of a happy life.