

{"id":69402,"date":"2021-08-31T16:51:38","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T16:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=69402"},"modified":"2026-02-10T06:00:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T06:00:59","slug":"lessons-you-learn-from-a-failed-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/separation\/lessons-you-learn-from-a-failed-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Important Lessons You Can Learn From a Failed Marriage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69080\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/what-keeps-couples-together-things-you-must-know.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of a Happy Young Couple Lying on Bed\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like any other failure in life, a failed marriage is a treasure trove of lessons that molds us into becoming the better version of ourselves.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although heartbreaking, it is always a good idea to take our experiences with a grain of salt and keep the wisdom we acquired as we move on in life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no denying that moving on from a failing marriage is not always easy. It is daunting to wrap your head around the idea that the person you once loved is now causing you anguish and sadness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the pain, this ordeal is gifting you with life and love&rsquo;s greatest lessons. This unpleasant time in your life will teach you maturity, strength, and valuable insights into why the relationship didn&rsquo;t work.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is prudent to look back and evaluate why your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/signs-your-relationship-is-failing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">relationship failed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and to heal from the past before jumping into a new relationship.<\/span><b><i> <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/love\/reasons-why-marriages-succeed-or-fail\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Real Reasons Why Marriages Succeed or Fail<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h2>10 important marriage lessons from a failed marriage<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you recuperate and go over this learning process, some important marriage lessons can be learned from a failed marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Communication is important<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/16-principles-for-effective-communication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective communication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a crucial ingredient for a successful marriage. You can avoid misunderstandings and resentment if both of you talk about your issues and concerns openly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, marriage doesn&rsquo;t work when partners hide their feelings and are not doing anything to open up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discussing a matter that&rsquo;s been troubling you can be awkward and uneasy, but keeping silent won&rsquo;t make the problem go away. Instead, it will snowball and will eventually become a reason for you to fight and argue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A marriage that doesn&rsquo;t work usually starts with a breakdown in communication that leads to the first step of a failing marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you foster deep and meaningful conversations, both of you can be open without fear of judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even in a heated argument, stay respectful and sensitive to each other&rsquo;s feelings and proactively work on resolving your issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">According to <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/experts\/jenni-jacobsen\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jennifer Jacobsen Schulz<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, LCSW:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If a previous marriage has failed due to a lack of communication, take the lesson to heart and recognize that success in future relationships will require healthy communication skills.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><b>2. Sex is essential<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sexual satisfaction is crucial for a healthy relationship between married couples as it gives the avenue to connect both emotionally and physically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making love is a unique and intimate bond both of you can share.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unhappy marriages start when couples deny each other sex or when one partner establishes physical and emotional intimacy with another person other than their wife or husband.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bonobology, a website about relationships, noted that cheating starts when one person inside a marriage craves and longs for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/5407182_Maintaining_Sexual_Desire_in_Intimate_Relationships_The_Importance_of_Approach_Goals\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">physical intimacy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from someone other than their partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most marriages end in divorce because of sex-related differences and issues. Aside from being open about your emotional needs, you also need to have honest and regular conversations about how you can fulfill your sexual needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/intimacy\/physical-relationship-or-emotional-relationship\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical or Emotional Relationship: What&rsquo;s More Important<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>3.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>Relationships take work<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failing to make certain sacrifices and adjustments are some of the common reasons why marriages don&rsquo;t work.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the greatest marriage lessons from most failed marriages is that relationships require work from both partners. Nonetheless, they shouldn&rsquo;t be hard all the time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relationships are indeed complicated and are not always rainbows and butterflies. There are bumps in the road that will test your commitment and love.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/15-key-secrets-to-a-successful-marriage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Successful marriages<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are made when couples are willing to sort things out, compromise, and go the extra mile to resolve marital issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you are already married, you and your spouse must continue to do something extra to keep the spark and chemistry alive. A little room for patience, understanding, and compromise can benefit your marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn to make personal sacrifices and make your spouse feel appreciated and valued.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, trying to make your relationship work should not be hard all the time since marriages are meant to be enjoyed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TkyW7qGlrN8?si=I1eKrZKyEbA60dzB\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">&#65279;<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"subscribeYT_highlight\"><div class=\"subscribe_channel\">\r\n            <div class=\"subscribe_text\">Join millions <span class=\"sub_text1\">building healthier, happier<\/span> <span class=\"sub_text2\"> relationships.<\/span><\/div>\r\n            <a class=\"subscribe-btn-in-content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@Marriagedotcom?sub_confirmation=1\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n            <img src=\"\/images\/youtube_icon_small.png\" class=\"icon-left\" alt=\"YouTube\">\r\n            <span>Subscribe<\/span>\r\n            <img src=\"\/images\/bell_icon_new.svg\" class=\"icon-right\" alt=\"Extra Icon\">\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <\/div><\/div>\n<h3><b>4.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>Love can be reawakened<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conflicts, fights, misunderstandings are brutal to work through sometimes. When in an unhappy and unfulfilling marriage, we tend to think of divorce as the ultimate solution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the greatest lesson on marriage is that love can be rekindled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes, marriage counseling or therapy sessions are all that a couple needs to smooth out their differences when marriages go bad.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If both of you are willing to try everything to reconcile your differences and salvage your marital vows, then go ahead and do it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a good direction for fixing your marriage. A relationship therapist can help you find solutions to work through your problems and figure out ways to rekindle your love, trust, and intimacy<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Schulz adds that:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>It&rsquo;s normal to have a honeymoon stage, full of intense passion, at the beginning of a relationship. In a long-term marriage, some of the passion may fade, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean the marriage is over.<\/p>\n<p>A marriage can be sustained over time, even as passion fades, with intentional effort from both partners.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/ways-to-romance-your-husband\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 Easy Ways to Romance Your Husband &amp; Rekindle Your Relationship<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>5.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>No marriage is perfect<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage can be a lonely affair, and like any other endeavor, there is no perfect marriage. If you commit to a marriage thinking that everything will be perfect, you are in for a ride in realizing your marriage mistake.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no perfect marriage, no couple is perfect, and no partner is faultless. However, despite these imperfections, you can still have a happy and satisfying marital relationship. The key is acceptance and commitment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you accept yourself and your partner&rsquo;s flaws and imperfections, you are on the road to a happy and fulfilling marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you try to accept and work everything out, yet somehow you are still unhappy, never be afraid to consider leaving. This is especially true if you are in an abusive and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/signs-of-an-unhealthy-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> unhealthy relationship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-63674\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/when-should-i-take-a-pre-marriage-course.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Couple Wearing Sun Glasses and Walking on Beach\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/h3>\n<h3><b>6.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>Quality time is vital<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best gift you can offer your spouse is your time. If you and your spouse don&rsquo;t <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/225686087_Spouse_Together_Time_Quality_Time_Within_the_Household\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spend quality time together<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you lose the bond and intimacy needed to keep the fire alive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes, couples get too caught up with work, taking care of the kids, and other marital responsibilities that they forget to spend time with their spouses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This could be a contributing factor as to why marriages don&rsquo;t work. Time is a vital ingredient to make your spouse feel wanted, appreciated, and loved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refrain from spending too much time on your phone or social media as these could be relationship killers. A partner&rsquo;s behavior to snub a spouse over a mobile phone is one major cause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your marriage is failing, it is highly advised to spend time together doing something fun, exciting, or relaxing. This will help you to connect physically and emotionally and get on the right track again.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/save-your-marriage\/reasons-why-marriages-fail\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 Must-Know Reasons Why Marriages Fail<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>7.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>Little things matter<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other lesson that can be learned from a failed marriage is that all things, even the little one&rsquo;s matter. No matter how trivial, any unresolved differences can be a significant factor in why you can&rsquo;t ultimately connect with your spouse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Know your non-negotiables before finally committing yourself to someone. If you are unhappy in your marriage because of small stuff you can&rsquo;t let go of, then one way or another, it will creep up into your marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will only know that there is an issue when your marriage is failing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&rsquo;t get into a relationship thinking you can change a person. If you are not willing to compromise, it would be best not to settle down with someone who does things that tick you off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Learn to appreciate the little things in life with this video:&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/34QpYJ2lSdY\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><b>8.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>Be secure with yourself<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a clich&eacute;, but it is true &ndash; you must love yourself entirely before you can love someone else. Unsuccessful marriages are often associated<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with insecurity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a partner is insecure, they have a constant need to control the relationship, stifling the other partner. This need for control often stems from deep insecurity and a lack of confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to enjoy and have a lasting marriage, learn to be secure with yourself rather than finding your sense of security from your partner. While it can be comforting to find security from someone else, you risk <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/322390780_Sabotaging_The_Self_-_A_Trait_and_It's_Relationship_with_Neuroticism\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sabotaging your self-worth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and this could result in a failed marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Related Reading: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/controlling-relationship-signs-you-must-know\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25 Signs You&rsquo;re in a Controlling Relationship<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>9.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>Have a separate life from your partner<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To avoid <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">failing marriage, both partners should enjoy doing things separately. Never forget who you are or lose yourself even after becoming someone else&rsquo;s husband or wife.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important to strike a balance to completely abandon your identity, hobbies, interests, or passions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Continue to nourish your relationships with your friends and families and do the things that you love. Don&rsquo;t change who you are to adapt to your partner&rsquo;s life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please talk with your spouse and let them know how important it is for you to keep your identity and remain who you are.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An emotionally mature partner will appreciate that their spouse is doing something they love despite being married. When you are happy as a person, your marriage will also be happier.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>10.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><b>Know the difference between love and infatuation<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-63668 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/When-Should-I-Take-Pre-Marriage-Course-couple-smiling.jpg\" alt=\"Happy couple\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before committing to a relationship, there is a need for the importance of love and limerence and how to tell them apart. The start of a budding relationship is always magical and full of bliss.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We may think that we genuinely love someone and get carried away by our emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But when marriages go wrong<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">many will find themselves in a tricky situation where they&rsquo;ll start to question what they feel. Some people marry because of reasons other than love.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marrying for convenience will eventually backfire. If you enter marriage and you are not in love, there&rsquo;s a greater probability that it will be a failing marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/separation\/how-to-get-out-of-a-bad-marriage\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Get out of a Bad Marriage<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no doubt that unsuccessful marriages are often associated with shame and failure. However, despite the stigma, there is a lot to learn from a failing or a failed marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think, &ldquo;Is my marriage doomed,&rdquo; then it&rsquo;s time to reconsider your decision and evade common marriage pitfalls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Jenni Schulz highlights that:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Learn what you can from a failed marriage so you don&rsquo;t carry the same mistakes into your next relationship.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the above lessons to understand where things went wrong, and who knows, true love will find you. This time, you are more likely to be successful because of the valuable lessons learned.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like any other failure in life, a failed marriage is a treasure trove of lessons that molds us into becoming the better version of ourselves.&nbsp; Although heartbreaking, it is always a good idea to take our experiences with a grain of salt and keep the wisdom we acquired as we move on in life. There is no denying that moving on from a failing marriage is not always easy. It is daunting to wrap your head around the idea that the person you once loved is now causing you anguish and sadness. Despite the pain, this ordeal is gifting you <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1392,"featured_media":69080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[2684],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69402"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1392"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69402"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116974,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69402\/revisions\/116974"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}