What Now?

You will never be “done” improving your marriage; it’s an ongoing process that requires ongoing awareness and attention.  As in all things that are worth having, a happy marriage only happens when we put forth a conscientious effort.  Some may view this as more of a sacrifice than they are willing to make, but I have found that the reward is well worth it.  I will admit that, though I knew it was something I needed, I was hesitant to take this class and procrastinated it for a few semesters.  After all, it wasn’t as though we were on the brink of divorce, and I had reconciled myself with where we were at.  Besides, it was in my comfort zone and I honestly didn’t feel the need to change.

However, as I have tried to incorporate the principles taught in the Goddard and Gottman texts, the results have made me wonder why on earth I waited so long!  Though far from perfect, I can attest to the power behind these principles.  Rather than trying to change my husband, I now have a great toolbox from which to work on “fixing” myself and enhancing our relationship.  I don’t have to count on him doing anything differently in order to find more personal (and collective) peace and happiness in our marriage.  It’s empowering and enlightening to know what really does work. 

But there’s so much to remember!  How on earth will I be able to incorporate all of this in my already-crammed-life?  These are the thoughts I was having as I worked through this week’s readings. Then I came to the “Magic Six Hours” section in Gottman’s (2015) afterword.  Here he shows the practical application of his principles in just six hours per week.

Admit it: 

You can easily waste that much time on social media or other terrestrial tasks.  Why not use that time to create a celestial marriage you can enjoy here and now?

References:

Gottman, J.M., & Silver, N. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (Revised). New York: Harmony Books.