Maintaining a healthy and happy marriage is important for couples because it directly affects your personal life.
The main purpose of marriage is to help and support one another through good times and bad.
While helping and supporting comes easy in the good times, it becomes difficult when things are not going so well.
As in any relationship, it takes two to make it work.
Here are five different things you and your partner can do to help save and strengthen your marriage.
First, before you can fix a problem, you need to understand what the problem is.
Find some time when the two of you can open up communication with each other.
Without placing blame, because that never solves any problems, lay out your feelings and what is troubling you in the relationship.
Know however, that a relationship is give and take, so be prepared for your partner's input as well.
If you are unable to resolve your differences in this manner, then a second thing you may choose to try is to seek the advice of a third party.
Going to relatives may not be the best course of action here.
Although they love you and want what's best, they are not neutral.
You should have someone with no stakes in your relationship help you through this.
If you are associated with a church or religious organization, you could speak to an elder there.
If not, try to find a marriage counselor or therapist in your area.
If there aren't any major conflicts going on in your relationship, but you just feel like things aren't as good as they should be, then try this: Plan a romantic get-away for just you and your partner.
Find time to re-ignite the passion and love that you have for one another.
Sometimes we just need some time away from all the stresses of everyday life to re-connect with one another.
A fourth way to help your marriage is to trade places with your spouse.
It is said that you never really know a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.
Have some empathy for your partner and try to see the situation from their point of view.
All people see the world through their own filters - the experiences that have brought them to where they are today.
So, try to understand their perspective and help them to understand yours.
The final thing you can do to help your marriage is to find a hobby or passion that you and your partner share.
What sort of things do both of you enjoy? Finding something that you both enjoy and can have fun with will lead to more enjoyable times together.
This can actually be the glue that holds your relationship together.
Marriage can be one of the happiest and memorable times of our life.
Work with your partner to get past your problems and make it the joyous time it is supposed to be.