All marriages have struggles and challenges, even if they are not apparent to onlookers. As a spouse in a marriage, you may feel as though you are the only couple who are experiencing hardships because all other couples you know seem to have perfect relationships. The truth is that there is no such thing as a perfect relationship and that all couples must work through tensions at one point or another.
Whether you and your spouse will get stronger as a result of your current struggles will largely depend on the attitude that you and your partner have toward finding a resolution. The following are some tips for proactively overcoming hardships in a marriage.
Remember that everything changes
Nothing is constant. Everyone is changing from day to day, and so are relationships. We all have to adapt to a constantly changing world, and the same is true for relationships. Just because you are no longer in the honeymoon phase of your relationship does not mean you are not in love, it means that your relationship is evolving. Having this perspective at all times can help you have a more positive view of the future.
Hold yourself to high standards
When issues start to arise in a relationship, it can be so easy to automatically blame the other person. While it’s likely that both of you have contributed to the issues that have arisen, the only thing you have control of is your own actions. Therefore, invest time into evaluating how you can improve, and encourage your partner to hold themselves to high standards, too. When you both focus on maturing independently, amazing things can happen.
Remember what the true meaning of love is
Many people mistake love as being physical attraction or a positive feeling. But love is an action — it’s a commitment that you make to act in the best interests of another person. Don’t wait for the positive feeling of love to return before starting to take loving actions.
All marriages have ups and downs. If you are currently struggling in your relationship, you should invest time in trying to overcome the key instances. At the same time, you should take the time to understand the divorce process so that you are adequately prepared in the event that this becomes an eventuality.