Rules For A Happy Marriage (Part 2)

In Rules For A Happy Marriage (Part 1), we shared some tips for a happy and lasting marriage.

These are the secret for being happy with yourself and your life before you can be capable of making your spouse happy.

Now, let us look at more ways to keep your marriage rewarding and joyful.

I would like to emphasize again how important that your marriage is your first priority. You did not get married to commute two hours a day, or work at the office 60 hours a week. You probably got married to share your life, your hopes and your dreams with your spouse. Not only during good times and especially during bad times, keep in mind why you married in the first place. Not jobs, nor cars, nor your favorite sports team. Remember, at one time, your partner matters most to you in this world. Well, act like it every day.

Don’t keep looking elsewhere. This holds true in your life as well as in your marriage. There will always be a couple that seems happier, wealthier, sexier, and more perfect than both of you. So what? Their happiness doesn't increase or diminish your happiness. Neither does their money, their jobs, their house, or their glamour. All that matters is whether you and your spouse have created a relationship that works for you.

Stop wondering "what if?" Wondering what it would be like to be with another person-for a night or for a lifetime is self delusion and is really unfair to your spouse. You see other people socially when they are at their best. You see your spouse all the time when he/she is at his best, her average, and sometimes at her worst. If you could swap mates, guess what? You'd see that person at his/her worst, and you probably wouldn't like what you see.

Commit to your marriage. It's as simple as making the decision to be totally committed to your spouse and to the relationship. No matter what happens financially, health wise or other matters. No matter what. Once the two of you have decided to stay "no matter what", there is no question of stay or go, yes or no. Now the emphasis is on problem solving. And all couples have problems. Happy couples learn to deal with their problems. Unhappy couples just run away.

A happy marriage won't happen by itself. It takes intention, commitment, and practice. But the couples who have happy, blissful, and satisfying marriages are proof that it is possible. Just choose to be happy, and choose to be happily married.