Did you know that love does NOT conquer all?
You see, often people get married with the idea that their ˇ§chemistryˇ¨ or undying love for each other will keep them together forever.
However, with almost 50% of marriages ending in divorce these days, itˇ¦s obvious that this isnˇ¦t the case. Therefore, it pays to know a few little secrets before getting married.
Here are 5 tips that help keep couples together long after tying the knot:
Over the years, people often drift apart or relationships and marriages become stale because couples fail to do new and special things together. That's why going on new and refreshing dates is so important. In fact, there is something about ˇ§datingˇ¨ that creates a sense of magic in a relationship and can even bring relationships out of a rut. While on a date, you also put more effort into your appearance, have more uninterrupted time to communicate on a deeper level and are naturally drawn closer together. Stuck for ideas? Spend the day at the aquarium, zoo, museum, carnival, bookstore, beach or park.
Itˇ¦s a well-documented statistic that couples who have dated for a year or longer before marriage have a significantly lower rate of divorce than those who married after a short dating period. A year of dating gives time for many emotions to surface and many character traits to be discovered. You may adore someone in the spring, but despise him or her in the winter. Asking someone for his or her hand in marriage on the third date isn't romantic. It's gambling.
Oftentimes, as a relationship matures, partners tend to stop praising each other because they 'assume' their partner already knows what they're thinking. When in reality, a day should never go by without you praising your partner. Compliment them on their cooking, reaffirm that they're the greatest person in the world or tell them theyˇ¦re a wonderful role model. If you want to be loved and romanced by your sweetheart, love and romance them first. When they're feeling loved, it is much easier to love in return. Are you a super supporter of what your mate does and says? So do you cheer them on and praise them constantly? Or do they constantly hear boos or silence?
Couples with the most problems are often the ones that say, "I just don't understand him/her." So let me ask you: How knowledgeable are you about your mate's profession or the degree they are pursuing? Do you know anything about his or her family heritage? Are you able to have a meaningful conversation about her cross-stitch hobby or his interest in rugby? If you are a man, do you fully understand what women experience during PMS or menopause? You don't need to be identical, but make an effort to learn about the things that interest your partner in life and you'll grow closer as a result.
Does your partner want kids? Do you both want careers? Do they have a history of spending their way into debt? Do they go to church?
In my opinion, the biggest reason almost half of marriages end in divorce is because couples fail to ask each other the right questions BEFORE they get married. I guess people think they'll be able to change their spouses after marriage and everything will be better. Wrong. If you fail to sit down and discuss finances, religion, sex, housing, your future, and other topics in great detail, you could end up with nothing but argument after argument for the rest of your days.
In the end, if you both have completely different views, desires and goals in life, thereˇ¦s no guarantee that chemistry or "I love youˇ¦s" will help you stay together. Make it your utmost priority to understand each other 'inside-out' BEFORE you take that walk down the aisle.
About the author:
Michael Webb is the author of ˇ§1000 Questions For Couples" the most comprehensive book of questions that all couples should ask before getting married. Covering lovemaking, religion, careers, money, children & raising them, household work, personalities, the future and much much more. To learn more, visit: 1000 Questions For Couples
The Secret to Help You Lose Pounds in a Week You know the drill: you've got some special event coming up, whether it be a wedding or an anniversary party or a work-related event, and you realize you need to lose just a little weight so you can get into your favorite dress or your best business suit. Or maybe a trip to the beach is on the agenda, and you want to be able to fit into that teeny new bikini or those cool new board shorts. Well, you might be surprised to know that you can actually lose pounds in a week, just in time to be ready for that big event or so that you can look your best on the beach. First, remember that you shouldn't modify your diet or embark on a diet or exercise plan without consulting your doctor or medical professional. Changes in your daily diet or adding strenuous exercise can be problematic, therefore expert advice is necessary to ensure that you approach your plan to lose pounds in a week in a healthy and safe manner. If you maintain a healthy diet but still find that you need to lose pounds in a week, you should look carefully at your daily food intake and the amount of exercise you get. You may be able to cut back on your daily calories by a reasonable amount, perhaps ten percent, and in that way you can force your body to burn some of your stored fat. Decreasing your daily intake of calories too drastically can put your body into starvation mode, and you'll find that you actually don't lose any additional weight because your body believes that food supplies are scarce. Therefore, you may discover that you begin to store up fat for future use -- and that means you won't be able to lose pounds in a week as you hoped. Additionally, you may be able to burn more fat by increasing the amount of exercise you get. Again, a reasonable increase -- perhaps ten percent more activity -- is all that you should expect to take on. Dramatically increasing your exercise without proper preparation can be dangerous to your body and your overall well-being. If you intend to lose pounds in a week you should take great care to ensure that you don't stress your body's limits through unreasonably harsh or strenuous exercise. You may find that the added stress ends up doing more harm than good. Despite what you might think, it is possible to lose pounds in a week. In order to get the best result, you should carefully examine your diet and exercise routine, and consult with a qualified medical professional. Together you can plan a short-term program of diet and exercise that will help you reach your goal in a healthy and safe fashion.