Marriage isn’t easy. So it’s important to get guidance from married couples to make things just a little bit easier. I’ve done that for you. Here is some of the best advice I’ve heard from seasoned couples. First, leave the past in the past. Dwelling on previous mistakes only drives a deeper wedge between you and your spouse. Second, forgive and ask to be forgiven…again and again. And be quick to do so. Third,...

My wife, Susan, and I recently kicked around some things wives should stop doing. Here are some of the top ones.  First, stop putting everyone and everything ahead of your husband…especially your kids. Your husband should get your freshest and best, not your leftovers. Second, stop treating him disrespectfully. It deflates him when you constantly question his opinion, abilities and judgment. Third, don’t expect...

Sometimes, when we least expect it, life hits us with a speed bump—telling us that we need to slow down. And while these natural speed bumps can be tough, they’re great opportunities for us to slow down and support our spouse. So what are some natural speed bumps you may face in marriage? First, there’s the speed bump of losing a job. It’s important to use this time to support your spouse—showing them that your...

My wife, Susan, and I recently kicked around some things husbands should stop doing. Here are some at the top of the list. First, stop telling your wife you understand what she’s feeling when you haven’t listened to what she’s saying. Susan has helped me with this one. At times, I think I’ve heard her but really haven’t understood her. Second, when your wife shares a problem she’s having, stop trying to solve it....

If you made, but already abandoned, your New Year’s Resolutions, you’re not alone. But research shows that people who specifically identify a goal, and are resolved to achieve that goal, are 10 times more likely to attain it than people who don’t. So let’s apply that to your marriage. Pick one simple new thing to do this year to improve your marriage and commit to making it a habit. For example: Ask your spouse,...

Unfaithfulness in marriage has severe consequences. In the blink of an eye, all trust and security can be lost. So instead of just hoping it doesn’t happen to you, take these precautions to protect your marriage. First, create practical boundaries. This means drawing a line for what appropriate interactions with the opposite sex look like and then staying a safe distance behind that line. Second, find someone who...

It’s not just the decisions themselves that impact your family; it’s also how you go about making them. Healthy decisions tend to be the ones that are made using a healthy process. Be committed to the principle that no big decision should be made without the full input and consideration of your spouse. Decisions made without a spouse’s input communicate, “I don’t value or need your opinion and perspective…I got...