Marriage & Wedding Information

10 Valentines Day Tips for Spouses Who Want to Improve Their Marriage


The best and most valuable gifts are often not material ones. While many spouses focus on Valentine's Day gifts such as jewelry or candy, spouses who are willing to invest the time and energy can give one of the most precious gifts possible-an improved, satisfying marriage.

Long after the romantic card is tucked away and the box of candy is empty, this marriage-enriching gift will still be appreciated and enjoyed. Follow these ten steps to give yourself and your spouse an unforgettable Valentine's Day gift:

1. Direct your energy into becoming the kind of marriage partner you'd like to have. It's easy to criticize a spouse for not being perfect while we overlook our own imperfections.

2. Focus on how you need to change in order to be a better partner. The only person you can ultimately change is yourself.

3. Accept responsibility for your own actions. You take a giant leap forward in growth the day you can say, "I'm sorry for my actions" instead of rationalizing and offering excuses.

4. Minimize blame and resentment. They are toxic and can poison your marriage and your life.

5. Practice forgiveness, not to let your partner off the hook, but because you want to move forward without carrying the weight of past hurts.

6. Break your marriage goals down into small steps and begin taking action. It'll be easier to continue moving forward when you start seeing progress.

7. Adopt the philosophy expressed in the Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me serenity to accept what I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

8. Focus on what you can do and give instead of keeping tabs about who is doing the most or making the greatest effort in your marriage.

9. Strive for balance in your own life between family, friends, work, sports, hobbies, recreation, and other interests. Then you won't be as likely to obsess about the imperfections in your partner.

10. Reward and praise yourself often for hanging in there in a challenging situation. You deserve it!

Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says "I don't love you anymore!" This e-book is available at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com, where you can also sign up for the free Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine. Nancy can be contacted at Nancy@KeepYourMarriage.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

How Getting Married Made Me An Activist
Newsweek - Nov 15, 2008
This NEWSWEEK editor's wedding has put him in the middle of the culture wars. Now, as he and his spouse wait to see if their marriage is valid, ...


Wedding season is back with a bang in Capital
Times of India, India - Nov 9, 2008
NEW DELHI: Wintry Delhi days may slow down much of the city, but for the effusive marriage season it is time to stir again. Quite literally, weddings wake ...


The 5 W's of getting your wedding license
New York Daily News, NY - Nov 9, 2008
BY ANNA T. HIRSH White dresses, colorful bridesmaids, fondant-covered cakes and cover bands – these delightful details might be the building blocks of a ...


Prince Charles' wedding might be 'illegal'
Expressindia.com, India - Nov 9, 2008
London, November 10: The legality of Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles has come into question after constitutional experts revealed that ...


Late night weddings and fireworks continue
The News International, Pakistan - Nov 13, 2008
By M. Zeeshan Azmat Last night I attended a wedding ceremony near the Five Star signal, North Nazimabad. The series of marriage lawns and halls on both ...


Think of the children???
Pleasanton Weekly,  USA - Oct 28, 2008
I agree with you. How dare the Yes on Prop 8 campaign use children in their commercials? The parents of the children on field trips did not consent to their ...


Where I Live - News Limited Community Newspapers

Hard work key to couple’s marriage
Where I Live - News Limited Community Newspapers, Australia - Nov 12, 2008
Golden couple ... Peter and Joan Waltisbuhl, of Cashmere, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 25. CHILDHOOD sweethearts Peter and Joan ...


Maui Weddings – Exotic Marriage with Deep Rooted Values
NewDesignWorld (press release), UK - Nov 10, 2008
Maui Weddings are getting popular day by day. The way in which these marriages are conducted is exceptional. In order to relish their marriage day for the ...


www.jaintoday.com offers free services for jain community.
BigNews.biz (press release), MA - Oct 29, 2008
... jain university, jain schools, jain colleges, jain centre, jain society, jain homes, jain sanskar, jain vivah low cost marriage wedding, jain schemes, ...

Marriage-Wedding - Google News

home | site map
© 2006