KEEP IN CHECK

– During rough patches it is easy to focus on the negatives, but for a functioning relationship, one needs to maintain a positive illusion of their partner through both good and bad. Maintaining harmony in a marriage comes with the price of setting aside your own resentment or pain in times of trouble in order to keep an open heart. With love comes hurt and with hurt comes forgiveness. Therefore, remind yourself of what you love about one another and don’t hold on to grudges that have been resolved. It is important to know your own motivations, be aware of your attitude and tone, and take into account one’s own actions and circumstances. Couples often challenge their spouses; however, it is important that they grow from this instead of being weakened by conflicting struggles. A simple entertaining task that can be used to remind yourself of your partner’s good qualities is to create an acrostic

poem using their name. The first letter of each line will spell out a word or phrase, for every letter of your partner’s name write something describing a positive aspect about them or what you like about them. Then discuss your poems with one another, you may find that you have been reminded of some good qualities that may have been previously overlooked.