{"id":60391,"date":"2018-02-22T09:39:58","date_gmt":"2018-02-22T09:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/best-friends-for-life\/"},"modified":"2023-05-18T10:04:09","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T10:04:09","slug":"best-friends-for-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/best-friends-for-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be Best Friends for Life: A Guide for Couples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Best<\/p>\n

When you get married, you may be getting a best friend for life in addition to a husband or a wife. <\/span>Ideally, your spouse will also be your greatest supporter, a confidant, someone who knows and loves you through and through. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you married someone who is your best friend<\/a> already, or you got hitched swiftly and are just getting to know your life partner better, there are some things you can do to develop a deep friendship within your marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Communication is the key<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Every successful marriage<\/a> is similar in one aspect – good communication. The same applies to friendships. In essence, without honest and direct communication, there can’t be any prospect of a deep and lasting relationship<\/a> of any kind. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you don’t speak frankly about what is on your mind, what is bothering you, or what needs you feel should be met, you are not entirely invested in your marriage. Instead, you are keeping a part of yourself hidden.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Couple<\/p>\n

On the other hand, being sincere in communication is only one aspect of a good communicator. Apart from speaking directly (no mind-games), you should also learn how to express yourself assertively. Yes, many marriages are sustained even with passive or aggressive communication<\/a>. But if you want your spouse to be your best friend, not just tolerate your ways, you need to learn to be assertive in your communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>2. Be kind and caring<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

What comes naturally as a continuation of the previous advice is the need to be kind and caring to your life partner to form a lasting friendship. <\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, being aggressive and swearing, yelling out insults, or ignoring a spouse sometimes happens, and those marriages also persevere. Yet, this is a truly unhealthy emotional interaction. Although married people sometimes get by with such treatment, no friend would tolerate it.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to benefit from a friendship within your marriage, you must learn how to be kind and gentle to your spouse<\/a>, even in difficult times. Of course, the easiest thing in the world is to get angry and pout. But a true friend will learn to understand the other and love them for who they are.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be caring for your spouse, and it will get back to you. Show affection, tell them how much they mean to you often, and ask if there is anything you can help with. <\/span><\/p>\n

Be there when they need you. Then, when you go through the rough times together, you will be left with that much more energy and time to spend it laughing and having fun, and that is something friends often do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Be<\/p>\n

<\/span>3. Find and share more common interests<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Married people often share little to no interest. Or at least they believe it is, so You can even hear a married couple being proud of how little they have in common, but their marriages blossom. Although this can be true, in practice, it is rather rare that two close individuals, friends or spouses, can have a meaningful relationship<\/a> if they don’t share interests and values.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to promote friendship in your marriage, you can build on the previous advice and find common interests with your husband or wife. It can be anything, something one of you enjoys, or a completely new thing you heard about in the news. <\/span><\/p>\n

Just venture on and explore what it is that you could both enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharing an interest (or quite a few) will deepen your relationship in two ways. <\/span><\/p>\n

First, you will learn more about your life partner, what makes them smile, what motivates them, and what they believe in. <\/span><\/p>\n

And then, you will also share time in an activity that pumps your serotonin and dopamine levels high, which promotes bonding.<\/span><\/p>\n

It doesn’t take much to share activities as a couple. Even if you don’t venture out, here are 10 activities that you can do as a couple right at your home:<\/p>\n