Strengthen the Friendship in Your Marriage

According to research from Dr John Gottman, long lived and strong relationships are maintained through moments of friendship woven throughout the course of your marriage. People who are friends with their spouse find it easier to connect and grow together. So, how do we strengthen our friendship with our spouse?

One way to strengthen your friendship in marriage is to make small moments into pivotal experiences. When a relationship is new, everything your partner does is fascinating and attention holding. A few years in, however, it can begin to feel like a chore to find time to be together. At this phase in your relationship, maintaining your marital friendship is the long term goal. Make the mundane moments important. Put down your phone and actively listen to your partner and respond in a way that they know you heard them and are invested in what they are dealing with, even if it’s as simple as checking the fridge for eggs.

Lastly, make your marital friendship unconditional. With those you consider your closest friends, you know that there are few things that could dissolve the bond between you. It is important to have that same relationship with your spouse. Recognize that there will often be differences in opinion and use those differences to see your partner in a new light and explore them in a different way. There will often be things that overflow into your relationship such as work, financial or parenting stress. Yet we cam be there for our spouse and treat them with the same understanding and support you would hope to receive from them.

For more ways to strengthen your friendship in marriage: https://www.gottman.com/blog/5-simple-ways-strengthen-friendship-marriage