How happy are you and your spouse with each other? 

Are you in a happy marriage? 

(Maybe you’re one of those who thinks

that “happy marriage” is an oxymoron.)

Listen, you don’t have to survive your marriage, or 

endure an unhappy relationship. 

You’re not an innocent by-stander. YOU can do something 

to make things better. 

But here’s what I know:

1) Couples in conflict feel less happy (well, duh).

BUT conflict is a part of life. So you have to learn how

to deal with it. 

*** You can’t be in a relationship and expect to never 

to get hurt. *** 

It doesn’t work that way because a marriage is made up 

of two imperfect human beings.

That’s why it’s so important to really understand one 

another when facing conflict; we talked about this last week. 

Striving to understand each other is a pathway to marital happiness.

2) Couples who assume things about each other feel less happy.

Assuming we know what our spouse is feeling or thinking can lead

to a GREAT deal of unhappiness at times. 

Word to the wise: Never assume.

3) Couples who don’t appreciate each other feel less happy.

We shouldn’t expect our spouse to do certain things for us because

it’s their “job.” Let them know how much you appreciate them. 

Say “thank you” once-in-a-while. Leave a note or card; call them out of 

the blue for no reason other than to say how much you appreciate them 

for the kind of person they are.

Do more of the following things to be happier:

1) Catch your spouse doing something right for a change.

Which do you do more, find fault with your spouse or find 

something to affirm?

2) Overlook their shortcomings.

3) Encourage them.

4) Let them know how much they matter to you – raise their self-worth.

5) Love them unconditionally. 

Never let them feel like they’re not good enough or that they don’t

measure up.

Imagine how your marriage might change if your spouse saw YOU as 

their source of unconditional, non-judgmental love. 

These are just a few “secrets” for staying happily married and 

being madly in love. 

Until next time, this is Mike & Gayle Tucker and we want 

you to be mad about marriage.