Marriage

1047 Words3 Pages

Marriage, found in all cultures, is the mark of adulthood. Marriage is more than an individual event; it is an establishment of relationships with all the family of their new partner. Marriage is a big decision that will impact a couple’s life forever. Before finding a partner, men and women look at suitors for specific traits. Both men and women look for mutual love, intelligence, looks, financial aspects, and maturity just to name a few. Some cultures arrange marriages or provide a dowry, which in this case there isn’t really any decision on who they are marrying. No matter what circumstances a couple is under however, there are characteristics that make a marriage work.
The first factor that leads to martial satisfaction would be to create realistic expectations. Couples are happier with each other if they go into marriage with a realistic view of what will be involved and a minimum of myths about married life. Common myths to avoid include the belief that spouses should instinctively know how to make each other happy without being told, and the belief that biological differences between men and women and make it difficult or impossible for them to communicate with each other. This is helpful for couples because they wouldn’t be going in way over their heads. When things go wrong they will be prepared to face the problem and not freak out about not having a perfect relationship. The second factor would be to have shared interests. Couples today in the West expect to be leisure companions, and marriages are happier if partners have many of their leisure interests in common. Having shared interests will help make it easier for couples to connect with each other and do activities together. The third factor is to share responsi...

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...think that talking through problems and not going to bed angry is important. Solving problems the time they arise can help ease the stress and if a couple goes to bed angry it makes the matter worse. “A lasting marriage results from a couple's ability to resolve the conflicts that are inevitable in any relationship. Many couples tend to equate a low level of conflict with happiness and believe the claim "we never fight" is a sign of marital health. But I believe we grow in our relationships by reconciling our differences. That's how we become more loving people and truly experience the fruits of marriage” (Gottman, 2012). Lastly, finding simple things to do for each other is the key to a successful marriage. Living with the same person for 30+ or more years can get routine and boring. By finding ways to surprise or make the other happy, they can keep the love alive.

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