by Laura Burkey
You've found your dream partner
You're planning a dream wedding
And
You're hoping for nothing less than a dreamy honeymoon.
Well why not - you've earned it. You've invested time, effort, and a good amount of compromise, to have all you've planned come off without a hitch.
So what are your plans for enjoying a dream marriage? Yes it is possible, and Yes, you have to plan for it if you want to stick with the dream theme you've already started.
There is a lot to making a marriage work well, and, trust me, your first year of marriage will not be short of tests to show you just what I mean.
Just as you wouldn't show up on your wedding day without having made any and all the plans you did, don't start your marriage without some sort of planning for how the two of you will grow and live together in love, respect, trust, friendship and harmony.
While there is a lot to making a marriage great, here are 5 simple things you can do now for a really strong start in your first year of marriage!
1. Talk about your Expectations.
Not of each other, but of the marriage you have just entered together. Aside from the flowery vows you recite in the wedding ceremony, tell your partner exactly how you translate those vows in your own words and ask what those vows mean to him or her personally. In other words be clear with each other what kind of agreement marriage is and what you expect it will and won't change once you are actually married.
2. Know what their needs are and share yours.
Find out what your partner will need to be their best as a husband (or wife) and tell him/her what you think you'll need in the relationship so that you can be your best too. For example: "I need to be and feel listened to if I am to successfully work through difficult issues that come along", "I need to feel appreciated if you want help from me around the house", "I need to resolve conflicts between us before ending the day or else I will be a mess until we do".
Note: Your spouse cannot be responsible to fill or meet all of your needs. So, when sharing needs, be sure that you also express to each other what needs you can accommodate and which ones you think you may not.
3. Agree to disagree.
One of the most common tests in the first years of marriage is each spouse trying to convert the other to do or think or feel the same as they do about everything, which naturally leads to disagreements about - everything. This is also known as the Power Struggle.
You can avoid this by starting your marriage with the agreement that you can and will disagree with each other about how things should or should not be and you will not to try to bend each others will to suit your own.
In situations where an agreement is a must for marital success, agree to step away from your personal positions and come together to create a compromise that you both agree on.
4. Be a Team!
Marriage is not a game so don't keep score on who the better spouse is. You are playing a game and are indeed a score-keeper if you regularly withhold saying or doing something for your soon-to-be-spouse because he/she had (in your perception) withheld in some way or another on you. This is how you break down a relationship not build one.
The goal in a great marriage is for each spouse to 'be for' and root for the other spouse. Never tire on finding ways in which you can understand your spouse and help him/her understand you.
5. Forgive! Forgive! Forgive!
Learn this skill in your first year of marriage and count on years of happiness in return.
Those who cannot or won't forgive end up with a marriage that is filled with hurt and distrust and spend most of their time consumed and blinded by resentment.
Allow and forgive the screw-ups and mistakes you are both likely to make, with the expectation of course, that you both learn from the situation and not make it a habit.
Note: Forgiving is not to be confused with tolerating or accepting certain (especially harmful and abusive) behaviors. Always seek professional help anytime your health or life feels at risk or danger.
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Laura Burkey coaches her clients to get the results they want! Read more at www.lauraburkeycoaching.com. Laura teaches and supports new couples to develop strong and powerful communication skills so that both partners are getting their needs heard and met in the marriage. Mrs. Burkey is available for individual, group, and corporate coaching. Workshops and speaking engagements also available. Note: account created to link posts.
