How to Live a Happy Married Life

If you are married, you'll know that happiness in your marriage is as essential as food is for hunger. Perhaps you'd like to be happier in your marriage, or you're thinking about getting married and you're looking for hints and tips. Here's some good advice for living a happily married life.

1. Respect each other's views at all times. Give particular attention to what your spouse wants, believes and likes. Ideally, rather than working out what you need, you should try to work out what you both need. If you disappoint your partner, say so: "I'm sorry that I disappointed you." and "I'll try to make up for that." If you may have given rise to a disagreement.
2. Listen to each other properly. Don't pretend to listen whilst you formulate your answer. Show consideration to your spouse, with high regard to not disagreeing unnecessarily.
3. Give priority to your spouse over everything else in your life. Show your esteem for your spouse by giving preference over the needs and wishes of others.
4. Sincerely say "I love you" often.
5. Start your day with a warm kiss or a hug.
6. Take time out and spend a few moments together--just the two of you alone.Maybe you and your spouse can go out for a walk or a drive to get away from others.
7. Talk graciously to each other about your thoughts--especially things for the two of you to agree upon or do together. Doing this daily helps foster communication between partners. Talk and thus be open hearted; this can create a bridge of thoughts and understanding. Never say things in anger intentionally meaning to hurt your partner. Cruel words you said but didn't mean may be hard for your spouse to forget - they can cause lasting damage to your relationship. When arguing keep to the subject and try not to personally attack your partner.
8. Cook for each other, and show that you appreciate the thoughtfulness and the food - even if you could do better, or you may end up doing all the cooking yourself.
9. Remember that ideally and spiritually both of you are like one soul and two bodies; if you hurt each other, you hurt yourselves as well.
10. Don't forget to do the little things that make each of you smile and feel loved.
11. Be patient with each other as much as possible.
12. Don’t break marital confidences or use them as a weapon during an argument.
13. If you sense that something is wrong with your partner take time to embrace them and ask what's the matter - maybe that's the time they need your attention the most. Don't ignore that opportunity.
14. Make sure your partner knows how much you appreciate the little every day things they do, like doing the washing up or making the bed.
15. Surprise each other with little gifts or tokens of appreciation. This will make the moment even more special. Gifts need not be extravagant or painfully expensive. It is always the thought that counts. A little something to create warmth and sweet memories. (TrueRishte)