Marriage Motivation
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I Married My Polar Opposite… and It Made Me Better
They say “opposites attract,” and in the case of my wife and I, that couldn’t be more true! While our opposing personalities make for some interesting conflicts, marrying my antithesis has been an experience of personal growth for both of us. If you’re dating someone who seems totally foreign to you, or you’ve just realized you’ve married a being from another planet, stick around for a minute. I’ll try to convince you why you should hang in there for the wild ride. A Bit of My Story… I married a woman that…well, as her brother would say…”She’s a pistol.” My wife is afraid of nothing. She’s strong-willed, decisive, and somehow…
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Interdependence in Relationships: Maintaining Your Individuality in a Partnership
A romantic relationship with a codependent person is the epitome of the “old ball and chain adage.” I think it’s safe to say that most of us look for red flags in this area, as we don’t want to lose our autonomy. However, in romantic endeavors, we need to let our guard down a bit to create real emotional connections. So, is there a way to balance this out? Can we be intimate with someone— give them our all— without losing our identity? This concept —in a nutshell— is what relationship gurus call interdependence. It’s the sweet spot where you know your partner is your ride-or-die, but also, you don’t…
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Rules of Fighting Fair: How to Respectfully Argue With Your Partner
In a perfect world, you and your significant other would never fight, but that’s not reality. It’s normal and real to argue from time to time, but it also doesn’t have to get ugly. Couples are bound to face challenges that spark disagreements. Navigating these conflicts with mutual respect is the key to maintaining a healthy and strong connection. In a mature relationship, both parties need to be able to express negative feelings fruitfully. Having rules for fighting fair is essential and can transform disagreements into opportunities for growth and understanding. By embracing the principles of fighting fair, couples can not only solve issues but also foster a deeper understanding…
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These Tips Changed My Marriage Into a Lasting Relationship
We’ve all heard the saying, “happy wife, happy life.” While that’s true in part because you need both participants in a marriage to be happy, content, and satisfied, it’s also a lie. “Happy wife, happy life” implies that you should do whatever it takes to make your wife happy because as long as they’re happy, you’ll be happy. However, speaking from experience, I can tell you that this is absolutely false. Mutual participation, where you both do whatever it takes to make each other happy and not just one of you, is the key to a happy and lasting marriage. If this means that you occasionally have to compromise, then…
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Why I Decided to Put My Spouse’s Dreams Before My Own
We’re currently living in a culture that is more self-centered than ever before. Everywhere you look, from movies to advertisements to self-help books, the emphasis is on doing what makes you happy and fulfilled. While there’s nothing wrong with having dreams and pursuing them, they may not always give you the fulfillment you’re craving. For my wife and I, that was exactly the case. I was so dead set on pursuing my own dreams that we turned our lives upside down so that I could half-heartedly chase them. My dream was to work my way into the family business, make enough money so that my wife could be a stay-at-home…
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How Immersing Yourself in Nature Can Strengthen Your Marriage
As an independent introvert, it’s extremely important for me to find alone time so that I can process my thoughts and feelings. However, I’ve found that too much alone time and solitude can also be a bad thing, especially when it comes to my marriage. It’s easy for me to let my thoughts run wild as I work through real and imaginary problems, often making them worse by internalizing them. Therefore, while alone time is great and rejuvenating, you’re going to have a tough time being in a functional marriage if you and your spouse can’t find an activity that you both love where you can discuss whatever is on…

















