Follow your heart. It’s something all of us have heard people say,
but what really does it mean? If you look up the dictionary definition
for the word “heart”, one you’ll probably see is “the center of your
emotions”. This means that if you’re going to follow your heart as it
relates to your relationship, it’s important to do what you can to
insure that your emotions are as healthy as possible. When you feel
good, your actions are sure to follow. Then love has a safe space to
grow.
Your marriage is able to be both fun and fulfilling when you and your
partner are willing to do whatever is needed to have an emotionally
healthy relationship. It’s all about spending time with one another,
tapping into your deepest needs and applying the following five tips to
your relationship.
1. Communicate your needs (especially as they change)
No matter how close you and your spouse are, there’s one thing
neither of you can do: read each other’s minds. The only way to get your
needs met is to state what they are. Don’t feel bad if they’re not what
they were when you first got together. The impressive thing about
longevity in marriage is being able to keep the love alive throughout
all of the personal transitions. Don’t be afraid of change. Be afraid of
what change can do to your relationship if you don’t talk about it.
2. Keep healthy boundaries with other people
Being married doesn’t mean that you won’t find other people
interesting or attractive. Being married simply means that you’ve made
the choice to not act on those impulses. There are many ways to have an
affair outside of sexual intimacy. Emotional affairs
can be just as damaging. If you’re sharing personal things with someone
else more than your spouse, if you’re sneaking to talk to them, if
you’re fantasizing about being with them---all of these are signs of an
emotional affair. Set some stronger boundaries. Watching how you
interact with others is important to the health of your own
relationship.
3. Share your dreams
The biggest cheerleader in your marriage should be your spouse! They
should not only be the person you live with, but the one you go to for
encouragement, insight and inspiration on how to reach your goals and
manifest your dreams. Two people who support each other into making big
things happen are two people who have a very connected (and usually
satisfying) union.
4. Don't hold grudges
It’s one thing to be mad at your partner. It’s another thing to have a
fight and go days without speaking. A lot of people don’t want to admit
what the root cause of holding a grudge is but usually it’s pride.
You’d rather wait for your spouse to come to you and apologize than go
to them and set things right. But in the wise words of Dr. Phil,
sometimes you’ve got to decide between being right and being happy.
Grudges are like a tug-of-war. That’s not a game to play in a healthy
marriage.
Follow your heart. It’s something all of us have heard people say,
but what really does it mean? If you look up the dictionary definition
for the word “heart”, one you’ll probably see is “the center of your
emotions”. This means that if you’re going to follow your heart as it
relates to your relationship, it’s important to do what you can to
insure that your emotions are as healthy as possible. When you feel
good, your actions are sure to follow. Then love has a safe space to
grow.
Your marriage is able to be both fun and fulfilling when you and your
partner are willing to do whatever is needed to have an emotionally
healthy relationship. It’s all about spending time with one another,
tapping into your deepest needs and applying the following five tips to
your relationship.
1. Communicate your needs (especially as they change) Source
No matter how close you and your spouse are, there’s one thing
neither of you can do: read each other’s minds. The only way to get your
needs met is to state what they are. Don’t feel bad if they’re not what
they were when you first got together. The impressive thing about
longevity in marriage is being able to keep the love alive throughout
all of the personal transitions. Don’t be afraid of change. Be afraid of
what change can do to your relationship if you don’t talk about it.
2. Keep healthy boundaries with other people Source
Being married doesn’t mean that you won’t find other people
interesting or attractive. Being married simply means that you’ve made
the choice to not act on those impulses. There are many ways to have an
affair outside of sexual intimacy. Emotional affairs
can be just as damaging. If you’re sharing personal things with someone
else more than your spouse, if you’re sneaking to talk to them, if
you’re fantasizing about being with them---all of these are signs of an
emotional affair. Set some stronger boundaries. Watching how you
interact with others is important to the health of your own
relationship.
The biggest cheerleader in your marriage should be your spouse! They
should not only be the person you live with, but the one you go to for
encouragement, insight and inspiration on how to reach your goals and
manifest your dreams. Two people who support each other into making big
things happen are two people who have a very connected (and usually
satisfying) union.
4. Don't hold grudges
It’s one thing to be mad at your partner. It’s another thing to have a
fight and go days without speaking. A lot of people don’t want to admit
what the root cause of holding a grudge is but usually it’s pride.
You’d rather wait for your spouse to come to you and apologize than go
to them and set things right. But in the wise words of Dr. Phil,
sometimes you’ve got to decide between being right and being happy.
Grudges are like a tug-of-war. That’s not a game to play in a healthy
marriage.
5. Say "I love you" often
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. So when you say “I
love you” to your spouse, you’re essentially declaring that you’re going
to be patient, kind and never fail them. Who doesn’t want to hear that
on a regular basis? Whether it’s verbally, by text or with a greeting
card or Post-it note on your bathroom mirror, tell your partner you love
them today. You’ll both be glad that you did.
