On your wedding day, everything seems like
a beautiful dream. But the reality of life often calls lovebirds back down to
earth. Whether the both of you find your roots or crash and burn depends on a
delicate balance of patience, hard work, understanding, commitment and
kindness. Making it together isn’t easy, but making the effort helps.


OF
ONE MIND

There’s no magic formula, but letting your
spouse know that you’re always thinking of their feelings and needs can go a
long way. It’s important to always be in sync with each other – and to never
feel like you are alone in the relationship. Try communicating regularly:

  • ·         Compliments. “You look great.”
  • ·         Consideration. “Is there any
    way I can help?”
  • ·         Humility. “I am sorry. Let’s
    work on it together.”
  • ·         Affirmation. “I love you.”

OF
ONE HEART

Conflicts will always arise, but you can
choose how to resolve them. When feeling at odds with your loved one, the heart
may rule, but it is best to keep in mind that:

  • ·         You have to choose your
    battles. If you are to spend the rest of your life with this person, is it
    really important to bring this issue up? If not, let it go.
  • ·         Direct but calm communication
    is always preferable to passive-aggressiveness or avoidance. If need be, take a
    time-out to sort out your respective feelings. When     both parties are
    clear-minded and objective, this leads to reasonable discussion rather than
    emotional warfare.
  • ·         When in doubt, ask nicely – and
    don’t presume. Trusting and respecting your partner go hand in hand.
  • ·         Take the initiative to set
    things right. Individual pride pales next to lifelong love and partnership.

OF
ONE BODY

The physical aspect of sustaining a
relationship is also important. While you are both young and in love, health is
easy to take for granted. Ensure your marriage will always be in prime
condition by:

  • ·         Sharing wellness. A sedentary
    lifestyle can affect your sex life and general health, and worst case scenarios
    of chronic health issues like heart disease and diabetes can greatly strain
    even the best marriages. Make healthy living fun by cooking nutritious meals
    together, and schedule health checkups regularly.
  • ·         Keeping fit. Scheduling
    exercise into your weekly routines strengthens marital bonds: the time spent
    together in exciting activities keeps both of you in tip-top condition and in
    high spirits.
  • ·         Maintaining physical intimacy.
    No one likes to feel like sex is just another box on the to-do list; rather,
    it’s a beautiful and sensuous deepening of romance bringing both of you closer.
    So keep the flame alive in small ways. Hold hands, hug, or even just gaze into
    each other’s eyes every day. Or splurge on the occasional romantic adventure,
    be it dinner or a vacation. 

Ultimately, marriage is a journey, so you
need to be well-prepared for roadbumps along the way – but remember to pause
every once in a while to enjoy the beauty of it all.