SECRETS OF HAPPY MARRIAGES

Marriages are made in heaven but have to be nurtured on earth. Like a beautiful garden, marriage too needs to be watered and nurtured for the flowers of happiness to bloom. Here are a few secrets that happy spouses around the world know and practise. Use them to enhance your marriage too.

Acceptance
Accept your spouse for what he or she is. Each person is an individual with unique qualities, likes and dislikes. Do not attempt to transform your spouse into what your idea of an ideal mate is. This can create friction in your marriage and leave your spouse hurt that you don't care for his or her feelings.

Romance
Love is the most important ingredient in any marriage. Be creative in expressing your love to your spouse. Surprise your spouse by taking him or her out to a special candle-lit dinner. Write love notes and slip it into your spouse's wallet or handbag so he or she can find them.

Caring
Romance is an important ingredient in any marriage and so is caring for your spouse. Looking after your spouse's needs is important. It could be as simple as picking out attire from your spouse's wardrobe for him or her to wear or cooking your spouse's favourite dish.

Commitment
Marriage is all about commitment. In today's world where men and women have plenty of opportunities to mix, it is easy to get into an extra-marital affair. This apart, the internet offers many avenues for cyber affairs that could later turn into real affairs. To keep your marriage happy, resist the temptation to have a fling or extra-marital affair.

Family
In the Indian context, the family plays an important role in helping a couple resolve any conflicts. Build a warm relationship with your spouse's parents and relatives. In times of trouble, they could bring a mature perspective to the scene.

Give & Take
Each of us has our own individual set of values, interests and habits. Living happily with another person calls for a bit of compromise. This give-and-take is what keeps couples together.

Don't Play The Blame Game
When things go wrong, don't blame your spouse. Instead try to see what can be done to sort out the problem. This will go a long way in strengthening your marital bond.

Incorporate these thoughts into your marriage and watch it brim with happiness.