Relationship advice: How to make peace with your spouse

If you and your husband are going through a rough patch, then check out this list of relationship advice for ways to bring love and peace back into the marriage.

6 Ways to tell your marriage will last a lifetime

Will you and your spouse live happily ever after? How can you be sure?

Kobznation.com recently polled a number of women and asked what kept their relationship strong and lasting. Their answers inspired us to craft our list of 6 ways to tell if your marriage will stand the test of time!

Check out our list and find out if you're in a marriage that will last a lifetime!

They're the first person you want to talk to

From gossip and general conversation to funny stories and deep talks, if the first person you want to talk to is your partner, then expect a long fruitful relationship. Your partner should be considered your best friend, so sharing little anecdotes and holding conversations throughout the day is a great sign for things to come in the future.

They still surprise you

Surprises come in all shapes and sizes. If your partner surprises you with a thoughtful gift from time to time, or they share something new about themselves that you didn't know, then you're in it for the long haul! A good, long-lasting relationship has to offer something fresh every now and then and can never seem monotonous.

Shauna Springer, Ph.D., and author of Marriage, for Equals says, "Overfamiliarity is the enemy of romance, so continuing to engage in some measure of independent growth is critical.”

You're on the same team

Relationship expert and author of Problem with Women...is Men, Charles J. Orlando, says that "Keeping a score card makes everyone resentful.”

No mater the situation, you and your partner shouldn't be competing against each other or clashing heads. Instead, you should be working together to solve problems. This can be applied to something as basic as household duties. As Charles J. Orlando claims, "Having a relationship in which both of you can speak honestly if you’re feeling overwhelmed, and not just lash out because someone forgot to take out the recycling one night, leads to a much stronger romance.”

Together, you experience the rollercoaster of life

Life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad. It's important that you realize this, but even more important that you experience this with a partner.

If you've gone through high times and low times with your spouse and come out on the other side each and every time, that's a pretty clear indication that your relationship will stand the test of time. Being in a relationship means you'll have to face adversity and rough patches. It's the couples that endure these hard times that end up together forever.

After all, you did vow "for better or for worse...in sickness and in health, till death do you part!"

They know how to push your buttons

This may sound crazy, but if your partner knows how to push your buttons and in what order to push them...it's actually a good thing! Think of it like this: it means that they know you better than anyone on the planet.

We're not suggesting that if you fight ALL the time, that you're a better couple. But there's nothing wrong with an occasional fight. In fact, it's rather healthy. Gilda Carle, Ph.D., relationship expert and author of Don’t Bet on the Prince says, "Anger is a perfectly healthy emotion. It’s fine to get into it, as long as you both know how to apologize and move on, fast.”

The key is to not let the anger and resentment fester and boil. Always be quick to mend the fight, because you don't want an altercation to turn too serious. It's just not worth it.

There's never a dull moment

When you first met your partner everything was new and exciting. Falling in love, and getting to know them gave you butterflies and felt fresh. After years of spending time together, however, the feeling of familiarity may have set it in. But if you truly feel like every moment you spend with your spouse is entertaining and fun, you're in a good place.

No matter where you are, or what you're doing, if you enjoy each other's company, then you can expect nothing short of a long lasting marriage.

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Written by

Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

relationship adviceEnglish