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Relationship Basics

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5 Keys to a Happy Marriage

By Relationship Basics5 Comments

Are happy couples just built different? Are they more compatible or agreeable and have a happier marriage as a result? Or are they doing something differently? It turns out it can be a combination of both. While this might seem like a cop-out answer, it’s actually good news. It means that while some couples might have a certain level of “meant to be” going for them, you have the power to improve your marriage if it’s not where you’d like it to be. It means that you’re not simply doomed to unhappiness if you and your spouse are facing some challenges or going through a tough season.

So what are these characteristics that set happy couples apart from unhappy couples? Here’s where we can actually provide some specific answers. Over the last 40+ years, Prepare/Enrich has gathered mountains of data on this very topic and found that these are the five keys to a happy marriage: Read More

May 1, 2024
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Man and Woman Having Conversation in the Kitchen

The Best Time to Work on Your Relationship

By Relationship Basics, Resilience5 Comments

Ahh, marriage. What a dream! You and your spouse both feel that your relationship is stronger than ever. Time to sit back, put your feet up, and coast, right? Well, not quite.

Don’t get us wrong. You deserve to relish and enjoy every bit of the joy a happy marriage can bring. However, we don’t recommend adopting the mindset that there’s no room for improvement. In fact, we’d make the argument that the best time to work on your relationship is when things are going great.

If that seems counterintuitive, here are 5 reasons why it makes perfect sense. Read More

March 20, 2024
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Couple talking on a scenic overlook

5 Reasons You Don’t Feel Like a Team

By Relationship Basics, Relationship Dynamics2 Comments

Do you and your spouse feel like a team? Or does it seem like something is getting in the way of that lately? It’s not unusual to go through periods where things are just out of sync between you. It can feel like you’re constantly at odds or working against each other, even if it’s not intentional. What’s going wrong? The reality is, sometimes you can fall into habits that shift the dynamic of your relationship in ways that gradually dissolve a team mentality. Here are five reasons you might not be feeling like a team and some tips for renewing that bond: Read More

February 28, 2024
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Couple Sitting on Deck Chairs and Kissing

Closing the Gap Between Expectations and Reality

By Relationship Basics8 Comments

Some say the key to avoiding disappointment is to keep your expectations low. Some even go so far as to say just don’t have any expectations at all. In some cases, this might work. Maybe your spirits have been crushed by your favorite sports team too many times to count, and you can’t simply invest any more emotional energy into getting your hopes up. Or perhaps you avoid reading any reviews of a movie you’ve wanted to see so that your own reaction isn’t swayed by your expectations.

When it comes to relationships, however, having expectations can be healthy. They help to set a standard for what is or isn’t acceptable and provide a baseline for holding yourself and each other accountable. They have the potential to push us to be a better partner and to grow as a couple.

You could say there’s a sweet spot for expectations in marriage, a balance between aspirational and attainable. Unfortunately, getting into this “zone” doesn’t always happen naturally. Sometimes it can seem like you’re both doing everything you should be, but there’s still a gap between expectations and reality. How can you bridge this gap? Let’s explore. Read More

January 10, 2024
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Happy Couple Hugging

Learn These Things About Yourself to Become a Better Spouse

By Connection, Relationship Basics5 Comments

It’s often said that in order to love someone else, you need to love yourself first. You might think just involves having a healthy sense of self-worth and generally liking yourself as a person, and that is part of it for sure. But truly loving yourself goes deeper than this. It involves really understanding who you are – the good, the bad, and everything in between. And although it’s somewhat counterintuitive, looking inward can actually improve your marriage. It’s true! Here are three key areas in which learning more about yourself can make you a better spouse. Read More

December 20, 2023
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4 Ways Gratitude Helps You Be a Better Spouse

4 Ways Gratitude Helps You Be a Better Spouse

By Relationship Basics10 Comments

If there was one thing you could add to your life that was proven to boost your marriage satisfaction and overall happiness, would you do it? Count us in!

Well, the good news is this magic ingredient does actually exist – it’s gratitude. A wealth of research has been done on the topic showing that gratitude has a positive effect on social, emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing. It makes sense then, that this carries over into marriage and relationships as well. Want to know how gratitude can help you be a better spouse? Keep reading. Read More

November 15, 2023
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Social Media & Marriage: 5 Essential Tips

By Relationship Basics3 Comments

Social media has become so pervasive that it’s hard to even remember what it was like without it. These days, it almost takes more intention and effort to avoid it than to join in. Friends and family use it for events and parties; it’s where all the latest trends seem to pop up, and people even gain celebrity status just by sharing their lives on it.
It begs the question: what impact has it had on marriages and relationships? While there are probably a few positives, one could argue that the effects skew pretty negative. The good news, of course, is that you can avoid this outcome. Here are five essential tips to ensure that social media doesn’t harm your marriage. Read More

November 1, 2023
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4 Benefits of Understanding Your Triggers

4 Benefits of Understanding Your Triggers

By Relationship Basics6 Comments

You’ve probably experienced this before – having an emotional reaction disproportionate to the comment that spurred it, or a conversation that goes off the rails when emotions escalate out nowhere. Sure, some conflict is unavoidable and necessary, but constantly lashing out when you’re triggered can be pretty hard on your relationship. When you do the work to better understand your own hot spots and triggers, you’ll begin to reap the following benefits: Read More

October 4, 2023
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The Downside of Comparison (& What To Do Instead)

The Downside of Comparison (& What To Do Instead)

By Relationship Basics, Resilience3 Comments

Oh look, one of your favorite couples that you follow on social media just went on (another) amazing vacation. They look so happy! They must be doing something right. Scroll, scroll, scroll. Ah, and there’s an old classmate gushing for paragraphs about their spouse… Should I be doing that? Should my spouse be doing that? Hmm, when was the last time we went on a romantic vacation or gushed about each other like that? Is our marriage going stale? Are we doing something wrong?

The pervasiveness of social media and the rise of “influencers” (both individuals and couples) has created innumerable opportunities for comparison to take hold. Even when you know it’s an unhealthy habit to fall into, comparison can creep into your thinking – especially when you’re constantly bombarded with what other couples are sharing about their own lives and relationships. You might begin feeling like your own life and marriage isn’t what it should be. Or perhaps you’ve started having a sense that something is missing. These nagging feelings often start out small, but they can become a larger problem if you’re not careful.

To avoid getting stuck in a rut of comparison, keep these things in mind: Read More

July 12, 2023
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3 Times Making a Wish List Will Save the Day

By Relationship Basics2 Comments

When was the last time you made a wish list? Maybe you have to think all the way back to when you were a kid, dreaming about what you wanted for your birthday. Or perhaps you have a more recent memory of making a big purchase, like buying a house or finding the right car.

Wish lists are not only great for dreaming big, but also for helping you prioritize your wants and needs. And for that reason, they can actually be a big help in a variety of situations you’ll experience throughout your marriage as well. Curious to know more? Keep reading. Read More

July 5, 2023
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