Most experts tell you marriage is about love and commitment, but few talk about one of the greatest keys to unlocking a marriage that is filled with not just commitment, but joy as well.
In order to create a marriage that has a high level of love, commitment, joy, and excitement the key is building a friendship with your partner. A strong friendship can help keep the spark alive in a marriage, and create a deeper bond between partners.
Being each other’s best friend takes every aspect of your relationship to the next level. And it will also help pull you both through the tough times that come.
My wife and I have been together for 24 years, married for 19 of those years. We have faced our daughter having a stroke, our youngest two having autism, military life, depression, being broke, and me being hit by two cars while on my motorcycle.
We could have called it quits and truthfully several times we were close to doing just that. Couples around us were getting divorced, at times it seemed like a viable option. But, we had created one thing that I believe pulled us up by the bootstraps; OUR FRIENDSHIP……
But how do you create friendship in a marriage? I am glad you asked, here are some tips to help you build a strong friendship with your spouse.
- Do the Little Things:
Friendship is built through doing all the small stuff consistently over time. Listening to their problems after a long day, making them coffee in the morning before work, telling them you love them randomly, hugs and kisses for no other reason than you want to love on them, and the list goes on.. Marriage and friendship are not built on the super big things that you do like taking them on a vacation. Rather, it is built on all the small things you are willing to do for them just because they mean the world to you.
- Communicate regularly and openly:
Communication is the cornerstone of any successful friendship. Make time to talk to your partner on a regular basis, and encourage open and honest communication. This will help you understand each other’s needs and desires, and foster a deeper emotional connection.
- Share your hobbies and interests:
Sharing hobbies and interests is a great way to bond with your spouse. Take the time to learn about each other’s hobbies and interests, and try to participate in them together. This will help you create new memories and experiences as a couple, and strengthen your friendship.
- Laugh together:
Laughter is a powerful tool that can help bring people together. Try to find humor in everyday situations and share a good laugh with your partner. This will help you create a lighthearted and fun atmosphere in your relationship, and build a strong bond.
- Support each other:
Supporting each other through thick and thin is an essential part of any friendship. Make sure you are there for your partner during both good times and bad, and offer a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on when they need it.
- Have regular date nights:
Make time for each other by scheduling regular date nights. This will give you an opportunity to reconnect and have fun together, and help keep the spark alive in your marriage.
- Practice forgiveness:
No friendship is perfect, and there will be times when you may hurt or disappoint each other. Practice forgiveness and let go of grudges, as this will help you move forward and strengthen your relationship.
- Be open to new experiences:
Be open to trying new things together. Whether it’s taking a cooking class or going on a road trip, trying new experiences together will help you create new memories and deepen your friendship.
Creating a friendship in marriage takes time and effort, but it is well worth it. By communicating regularly, sharing hobbies and interests, laughing together, supporting each other, having regular date nights, practicing forgiveness, being open to new experiences, and doing the little things, you can build a strong friendship with your spouse that will last a lifetime.
For more tips, insights, and fresh ideas to create a strong relationship join our FAMILY of like-minded couples building Bulletproof Marriages here https://www.facebook.com/groups/bulletproof/
