The preamble of this article interestingly points out that society is set up to support and satisfy business interests but not family interests; so when two people come together in a marriage, although they have each other, they many times face the problems of the world without much support from society.
Researchers have studied marriages for decades to figure out what works to keep a couple together for the long hall. They have found these 7 factors outlined in this article to be essential for a happy long term marriage:
The first thing that a relationship really needs is a strong foundation. It is suggested that starts with a good friendship. Although your primary relationship should be one of your primary friendships, it should not be your only friendship. Like plants and trees in nature, people need space to grow in the sun and flourish.
Successful relationships often demonstrate that the individuals are truly in a successful partnership where they always have each other’s back and are always supportive of one another. They share successes, they share disappointments, but more importantly, they support one another when there is a problem. As termed in the article, it’s not “codependency”, but “interdependency”. Being consistent and empathetic with each other are required for a truly successful partnership.
What most people don’t realize is that optimism and positivity are essential to succeed in any avenue in life. This is especially true in a committed, primary relationship. Being optimistic and positive enables a person and/or a couple or partnership to face conflict and problems and to come up with problem solving strategies that are creative. Practicing gratitude and being grateful for all aspects of the person in your life and having empathy for their circumstances and the things they are going through in life, in addition to your own, really fortifies the relationship. It’s like the infrastructure that creates a strong foundation. Think of it as steel used to reinforce concrete.
How do you manage stress? How do you as a couple manage stress? Stress is a very big factor in life and it comes in all forms. Plus, no one is immune. Everyone has stress in their life, in one form or another. How we individually and as a couple face stress and adversity can affect the health of a relationship.
I found this article to be a very introspective read with some great points on what we should all pay attention to in our relationships. Let me know your thoughts about the items outlined in this article. I’ve only touched on a few.
Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Virginia Pelley, Fatherly.com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash