5 Simple Love Gestures for a Happy Marriage
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Key Takeaways
Early on in a dating relationship, when you’re completely mesmerized by your partner, you spend ample time, money, and energy pleasing them.
You think about ways you can make them happy. You buy things for them, indulge in various love gestures, and you plan a captivating date- it’s intoxicating!
But then, somewhere along the way, after you’ve been married for a year, three years, or five decades, you may find that some of that spark fizzles out.
When the spark is quelled, marriages enter into risky or unhealthy territory.
You and your spouse stop thinking about how you can make each other happy and spend all of your resources, thinking about how you can satisfy yourself.
This selfishness doesn’t always show up in glaring or hurtful ways, but it subconsciously sets the tone for the relationship. It also prevents your marriage from being as happy, healthy, and vibrant as it should be.
But here’s the exciting news. You can spin out of this cycle just as quickly as you slipped into it. All it takes is a few rational thoughts and simple love gestures.
5 small yet powerful love gestures
People often assume that it takes too much time and effort to turn a marriage around.
Whether you’re looking to go from disastrous to better or good to great, it might only take a few small gestures of love.
Let’s explore some small gestures you can show to your spouse to have a happy marriage.
Warning: Some of these are so small and silly that you’ll wonder if they could possibly work. Believe us, they do!
The power lies in the simplicity. These love gestures are so easy that you don’t have any reason to avoid them.
1. Give undivided attention
How many times do you communicate with your spouse while feeding the kids dinner, sending an email, typing out a text, or watching TV?
If we’re honest with ourselves, our busy lives often cause us to neglect our spouses – or only give them half the attention they deserve.
Want to regenerate your marriage? Drop everything you’re doing when your spouse talks to you, and give them undivided attention.
Listen, engage, and then return to the task. Your spouse will certainly notice your love gestures, and appreciate them.
2. Look after the kids
You can show your spouse that you care about them by looking after the kids.
Watch the kids so that your spouse can shower, do some work, go out with friends, exercise, enjoy a glass of wine, read a book, etc. Just watch the kids!
It’s one of the sweetest love gestures that you can show to pamper your spouse.
3. Stop nagging
Nobody likes a nagger. And if you’re constantly nagging your spouse, it’s going to kill the marriage. It’ll give way to bitterness, lack of intimacy, frustration, and sensitivity.
Not sure how or when you nag?
Ask your spouse to make you aware of the areas where you annoy the most.
Merely asking this question shows that you care. It also gives you the self-awareness needed to stop.
4. Stop being annoying
Think about all of those things you do that make your spouse annoyed. Then stop doing them. Yes, it’s that simple. Here are a couple of examples:
For example, in a lot of marriages, the husband’s shaving habits frustrate the wife. The husband leaves the sink a mess, and the wife becomes frustrated by the need to clean up continually.
Simple solution: Learn how to shave without clogging the drain and leaving stray whiskers on the countertop.
Another example is- in many marriages, one spouse’s irresponsible spending habits frustrate the other.
Creating a budget and allocating specific spending money for each spouse can alleviate this point of contention.
These are just two random examples. There are hundreds!
Make a list of the top five ways you and your spouse annoy each other and proactively address each one.
Also, watch this video to avoid common relationship mistakes.
5. Try the Benjamin Franklin Effect
The Benjamin Franklin effect is a cognitive bias that motivates people to like someone more after doing a favor for that person.
So, if you’re feeling bitter towards your spouse, the best remedy is to do something nice for them. The love gestures can include unloading the dishwasher, cooking dinner, or putting the kids to bed.
After doing so, you’ll feel more positive. Plus, your spouse will be thankful for the kind gesture.
Contribute to the health of your marriage
It doesn’t take a lot to improve your marriage. One simple love gesture could be the catalyst needed to propel your relationship forward and reignite a spark.
Hopefully, this article has given you a few ideas on easy yet effective love gestures.
So, if your marriage has hit a rough patch, make use of these small gestures to turn your relationship around.
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Alex Sanders
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