Sometimes individuals and couples can feel dissatisfied, unhappy and unfulfilled in their marriages/ relationships and be unsure as to what exactly is wrong
There are many factors that contribute to a satisfying marriage/relationship such as; Love, Commitment, Trust, Time, Attention, Good Communication including Listening , Partnership, Tolerance, Patience, Openness, Honesty, Respect, Sharing, Consideration, Generosity, Willingness/Ability to Compromise, Constructive management of Disagreements/Arguments, Willingness to see another’s viewpoint, Ability and Willingness to Forgive/Apologise, Fun. The list is simple and obvious yet it can be very difficult for individuals /couples to restore their marriage/relationship to a satisfying one when difficulties arise or when they drift apart.
There are many areas of closeness that can enhance a marriage/relationship, help it to remain strong and help it to get back on track when it has become distant/difficult. Sometimes couples feel that things are not right between them, they wonder what is wrong and what they can do?
The following four areas of closeness can help guide a couple in assessing how their relationship is and can also guide a couple in how to become closer and improve their relationship when difficulties arise, or when they have become distant from one another.
Areas of Closeness
Doing things Together Physical Closeness
Emotional ClosenessSexual Closeness
None of the four areas above are more important than each other but each can help another area to thrive and all together they can help a relationship become more satisfying, closer, more intimate
Doing Things Together
It is important that couples spend time together. With busy lives, many commitments and children to care for couples can find themselves with very little time for each other. Spending time together regularly, shopping, dining out, going to the cinema, walking, swimming,involvement in sports, exercising, sharing hobbies and holidays can help couples become closer and have more time to talk and therefore get to know one another better.
Physical Closeness
It is important for a couple to be close physically. This can include eye contact, holding hands, hugging, sitting close together, massaging one another. More opportunities for physical closeness will enhance a couple’s sense of closeness and intimacy. It is important for couples to be conscious that some individuals are more comfortable being physically demonstrative than others and it is important to try to understand how comfortable or otherwise your spouse/partner is and take it from there.
Emotional Closeness
Emotional closeness will help couples get to know and understand each other more deeply and also have empathy for each other. It involves being open with each other about feelings, thoughts, beliefs, values, hopes, worries, fears, dreams and ambitions. Attentive listening enhances emotional closeness when both individuals listen in order to get to know and understand their spouse/partner more fully, rather than to disagree, judge, blame oror criticise their spouse/partner.
Sexual Closeness
It is important that both individuals are happy with their couple sexual relationship and feel able to raise and discuss their sexual relationship with the other as needed. Sometimes couples can be very concerned about the frequency of their sexual activity. As long as both individuals are happy with the frequency and the nature of their sexual activity there is no need for them to be concerned or to compare their sexual relationship to those portrayed in the media or those reported by others of their acquaintance, both of which can be at variance with reality.
FAQs
There are many factors that contribute to a satisfying marriage/relationship such as; Love, Commitment, Trust, Time, Attention, Good Communication including Listening , Partnership, Tolerance, Patience, Openness, Honesty, Respect, Sharing, Consideration, Generosity, Willingness/Ability to Compromise, Constructive ...
What are the three C's of a good marriage? ›
A strong and healthy relationship is built on the three C's: Communication, Compromise and Commitment.
What is a good relationship and marriage? ›
Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power.
What are the 5 correlates of a happy and long lasting marriage? ›
These five qualities—friendship, togetherness, affection, other-focused, and shared spirituality—are often found in the people who describe their marriages as “happy.” These are the ways we love and desire to be loved—with a passionate, companionate, altruistic and spiritual love—manifested most profoundly in our ...
What are the 4 A's in marriage? ›
Attraction: Giving our bodies to each other willingly. Appreciation: Understanding what our partner's role is in our marriage and helping them fulfill it. Aid: Not too proud to ask for help when we can no longer help ourselves.
What are the 4 principles of marriage? ›
Expressing gratitude, working selflessly, laughing together, and nurturing faith are important keys to building an eternal marriage. Marriage can be challenging for anyone at any stage of the relationship.
What is an unhealthy marriage? ›
Charmain F. Jackman, a bad relationship is simply one that is unhealthy. "In this relationship, one or all partners that exhibit a lack of respect for each other, have trouble engaging in positive communication, and may have no interest in being together," she explains.
What is the ideal relationship between husband and wife? ›
There are many factors that contribute to a satisfying marriage/relationship such as; Love, Commitment, Trust, Time, Attention, Good Communication including Listening , Partnership, Tolerance, Patience, Openness, Honesty, Respect, Sharing, Consideration, Generosity, Willingness/Ability to Compromise, Constructive ...
What are the 7 principles of a happy marriage? ›
Timeless Tips: The 7 Research-Based Principles for Making Marriage Work
- Enhance your love maps.
- Nurture your fondness and admiration.
- Turn toward each other instead of away.
- Let your partner influence you.
- Solve your solvable problems.
- Overcome gridlock.
- Create shared meaning.
For David Richo in his book 'How to be an Adult in Relationships', there are five key elements that all healthy relationships need - attention, acceptance, appreciation, affection and allowing. I love discussing these with clients and exploring how each are showing up in their relationship.
Trust, honesty, and mutual respect: These three elements form the foundation of any healthy relationship. Be truthful with each other and never hide your feelings or intentions. Respect each other's opinions and decisions, and trust that your partner has your most significant interests.
What makes a man a good husband? ›
A good husband is someone who is honest, dependable, and keeps his promises. Trust is essential in any relationship, and a husband who is trustworthy can help create a secure and stable environment for his family.
What is intimacy in marriage? ›
Intimacy in a relationship is a feeling of being close, and emotionally connected and supported. It means being able to share a whole range of thoughts, feelings and experiences that we have as human beings.
What does a healthy marriage look like? ›
Spouses who are intimate, emotionally supportive, trusting, and caring have healthy marriages. Friendship and Spending Time Together. In healthy marriages, spouses act like best friends and spend quality time together.
What are the 3 C's values? ›
The next time you are leading your team, focus on your mindset and decide to be a three-C leader: competent, committed and with strong character. When we do that, our employees win, and when they win, we all win.
What are the 3 C's of a woman? ›
the 3Cs to a woman's success. When it comes to achieving success, most research actually points towards pretty clear results: a woman needs confidence to believe in herself, competence to deliver results, and the right connections to create opportunities and lift her up.
What does the three 3 C's stand for? ›
We are all innately curious, compassionate, and courageous, but we must cultivate these values — the 3Cs — as daily habits to foster the independent thinking, free expression, and constructive communication that will enable our society to reach its full potential.
What do the three C's mean? ›
What do the three C's stand for in order? In credit the three C's stand for character, capacity and capital. Typically, these factors of credit are used to determine the creditworthiness of a business or an individual before giving them loan.
