MCC - Muslim Community Center for Human Services

WAYS TO KEEP A MARRIAGE HEALTHY

• Communication: regularly taking time to talk and explore feelings, spend 30 minutes each week not focusing on work or controversial issues.
   
• Calmly disagreeing: You do not have to agree with each other on all matters but you must have a capability to resolve the differences of opinions.
   
• Avoid negative interpretation of your spouse's behavior.
   
• Communication skills: Express your feelings clearly, pay attention, listen and don't interrupt the speaker, paraphrase what you heard and avoid misunderstanding.
   
• Expectations: Being aware of your expectations of spouse, be reasonable and express clearly your expectations. Don't assume that your spouse knows what you expect.
   
• Keep spouse informed: your schedule and what is happening in your life.
   
• Apologies: no one is perfect, yet many men and women hide behind false pride by never admitting that they have been wrong.
   
• Forgiveness is critical for maintaining your bond together and it is an expression of love and commitment.
   
• Commitments: Make commitments to marriage with dedication not constraints such as social, financial, children or lack of better alternative.
   
• Become aware of struggle and stresses each spouse is experiencing and help your spouse, especially when he/she is working hard on a project. It conveys sensitivity and devotion.
   
• Elimination of irritating habits. Recognize what is irritable to your spouse and change the habit even if you do not see it as important.
   
• Loneliness: Loneliness is the most troublesome and uncomfortable feeling a couple has when they have drifted apart. Loneliness is a psychological despair due to a sense of not being understood or accepted by those you care about. Make every effort to prevent this from happening.
   
• Change: Attempt to make sure changes have overcome the fear of change. Change of any kind is uncomfortable and with practice the discomfort will disappear.
   
• Influence of peers: Relatives and friends with whom you share your problems may not support the changes you are bringing in yourself. You must do what is right for your marriage even if you must stand alone.
   
• Non sexual affection: Affectionate, nonsexual touching reaffirms the emotional bond.

Muslim Community Center For Human Services offers free educational programs for community groups on HEALTHY MARRIAGES. For further information please contact MCC For Human Services at 817.572.4981