What if I told you there was one thing that you could do today and every day that would dramatically improve the quality of your marriage … no matter what condition it is in?
In fact, doing this one thing regularly will make good marriages great and even begin to heal broken relationships. What’s great about this secret ingredient is that it will make a difference in your marriage even if you are the only one doing it. Your spouse doesn’t have to participate … he or she simply has to receive what you are doing and good things can begin to happen.
This secret element has not only been extremely well researched and supported by academia … it is biblically based. So, are you ready to find out what this “silver bullet” that can drastically improve your marriage is?
Researchers from the University of Georgia surveyed hundreds of married individuals throughout the United States. These spouses were asked countless questions about their levels of marital satisfaction as it related to intimacy, money, parenting, communication, and how they expressed appreciation to their spouse.
The study found that expressing gratitude to your spouse on a regular basis was the number one predictor of marital quality. Yes, it is that simple … just saying thank you.
The study revealed, couples who showed higher levels of spousal gratitude were less prone to seek divorce. When couples expressed gratitude or showed appreciation for each other, it buffered the negative effects of their conflicts. “Even if a couple was experiencing tough times, expressing gratitude helped promote positive marital outcomes.”
That’s because feeling appreciated makes you feel valued by your spouse … and has a great impact on how you feel about your marriage and your commitment to making it last. There is tremendous power in saying, “Thank You”.
So, if you and your spouse are in a good marriage, discuss how you are doing in expressing gratitude and appreciation for each other. Make a commitment that you will take some time on a daily basis this week to mutually express gratitude and appreciation. Talk about how you can make this practice part of the DNA of your marriage. You may want to start a gratitude journal to help you remember all the things you love about your spouse!
If you are in a struggling marriage, don’t wait for your spouse to begin expressing gratitude and appreciation before you do. Take the lead. Try to find small things that you can be grateful for on a daily basis and share them. Let’s be like the apostle Paul when he shared with his beloved … I do not cease giving thanks for you …
