As someone who’s newly married or thinking about marriage, you may have your mind focused on the good times to come. That said, you should also bear in mind the many struggles that also go along with marriage. Having a realistic and well-balanced idea of the playing field provides you with a great advantage. What’s more is you have tools to head off what could be a rocky road ahead.
Just as you likely had financial struggles when you were single, you can expect them to remain when you get married. To help overcome financial woes, always be honest about your finances, no matter how embarrassed you may be. Even when your financial status is good, act as if you’re living paycheck to paycheck to avoid overspending. Finally, come up with a budget with your spouse, and stick to it.
Cheating can leave a marriage utterly destroyed, or at least cracked for the rest of its duration. Many well-seasoned divorce attorneys all agree that cheating is one of the top reasons for marriages breaking up. If you find yourself developing emotional or physical feelings for another person, ask yourself where those feelings sprang from and how they reflect on you and your marriage.
Your partner may not remain the same physically or mentally for the rest of your shared lives. Mental illness can develop over time, or your spouse may become seriously physically ill from an accident or disease. Either scenario can render him or her a different person. While you may not be able to develop a cure for the illness, you can act as an anchor and source of strength to maintain the marriage.
Struggles, fights, and arguments are inevitable in a marriage, no matter how much you and your spouse love each other. People change, and their relationships change right along with them. Rather than see a struggle as a bad thing, try to see it as an opportunity to deepen your love and understanding for each other. At the end of the day, remember that struggles should not define your marriage bond.