Keys to a Successful Marriage Part 5

Key 5:
LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER

I say again,
listen to ONE ANOTHER.
What that means is:
both husband and wife must be able to discuss problems
and listen to what each other has to say.

One of the most common reasons when problems arise is:
communication breakdown.
It is most detrimental to a marriage when one of the partner
refuses to discuss issues openly.
Communications have to be 2-way.
It does not help for just one partner to pour out everything
and the other simply "hearing" it.
We need to practise "active listening".
What do I mean by that?
Now, when your partner talks to you,
you must not only listen,
you must also SHOW her/him that you are listening.
How do you do that?
There are a few ways to that,
one of the simplest way is to paraphrase what your partner says.
By doing that,
you show her/him that not only you're listening,
you UNDERSTAND what she/he is talking about.
Above that, you show interest to know more.
Of course, at this point,
the one talking will have to allow some time for the other person
to absorb and digest.

Problems in a marriage need to be resolved by
both husband and wife,
for the fact that marriage is between 2 individuals.
It takes 2 hands to clap and it definitely need 2 hands to make it work.
Work it out together if you can,
but don't hesitate to get outside help.
Remember when you give your vows to one another,
you vowed to go through thick and thin, weal or woe,together.
Make every, I mean EVERY single effort to make it work!