| Does your marriage revolve around your | | | | their views. Be open to what they say. |
| children or grandchildren? Do you and | | | | Don't be too sensitive or defensive. |
| your spouse spend too much time apart? | | | | Don't be judgmental. It doesn't take a |
| Have you grown apart? Imagine your | | | | rocket scientist to figure out that if |
| marriage 20 years from now. How is it | | | | you overreact to what they say, your |
| going to be if you keep up with your | | | | spouse isn't going to talk to you. |
| current approach? If you don't like the | | | | Try to be accepting and positive of what |
| thought of your future with its present | | | | your spouse has to say even if what you |
| course, then your marriage may need a | | | | hear surprises you. If you have a hard |
| spring cleaning. | | | | time keeping your mouth shut, I suggest |
| Ernest Holmes said, "Life is a mirror | | | | you sit on your hands. Somehow this |
| and will reflect back to the thinker | | | | simple behavior helps you keep quiet so |
| what he thinks into it." Have your | | | | that you just listen. Remember, one |
| thoughts undermined a once great | | | | good idea could be life changing to your |
| relationship? If so, you can redirect | | | | marriage. |
| your thoughts and thus redirect the | | | | Be curious and eager to know your spouse |
| future of your marriage. Most couples | | | | all over again. It doesn't take both of |
| put more effort into the planning of | | | | you to do the spring cleaning, even |
| their vacation than they do their | | | | though it helps. You'd be surprised by |
| marriage. | | | | what one dedicated spouse can do. And |
| Remember the days of dating each other? | | | | just like the spring cleaning of your |
| You couldn't get enough of each other | | | | home, your marriage deserves many |
| and gladly gave a lot of attention to | | | | cleanings. Keep your marriage fresh and |
| your partner. After a couple gets | | | | alive. Tap into your ability to dream |
| married they are pulled apart by things | | | | again. Rediscover the beauty of your |
| like their career and the needs of their | | | | husband or wife. Take one step today |
| children. A routine develops and if the | | | | towards the renewing of your marriage. |
| couple isn't careful, so does a sense of | | | | Then take another step tomorrow. And so |
| boredom. | | | | on and so on.. |
| Unfortunately, your spouse tends to get | | | | Here are some additional "cleaning |
| blamed for the boredom. But don't be | | | | solutions" for your marriage. |
| too quick to judge. Simply because you | | | | 1. Try to see your spouse with fresh |
| have been together for a number of years | | | | eyes. |
| doesn't mean that you know your spouse | | | | 2. Keep your mind focused on your |
| today. People change. As men get | | | | spouse's positive qualities. |
| older, they tend to shift focus from | | | | 3. Forgiveness is letting go of the |
| their career to their family. Women | | | | past. Forgiving yourself and your |
| tend to go in the direction of career | | | | spouse is an attribute of the strong. |
| because they have put their career | | | | 4. If you are keeping score of your |
| pursuits on hold for the sake of their | | | | spouse's mistakes, you are setting your |
| children. | | | | marriage up to fail. |
| The goals you had early in the marriage | | | | 5. Life is too short to allow boredom to |
| have probably changed. But your partner | | | | infiltrate your marriage. |
| may have the assumption that you still | | | | 6. Good things often come from the |
| want things the way they were in the | | | | difficult times. |
| beginning. Especially in the ages | | | | 7. Strive to genuinely understand your |
| between 35 and 55, what's important to | | | | spouse. |
| you and what matters most are usually | | | | 8. Break your routines to keep the |
| being re-evaluated. | | | | marriage exciting. |
| Talk with your partner about what is | | | | 9. Maintain an attitude that encourages |
| really important to you. What would | | | | openness. |
| make your life more satisfying? Listen | | | | 10. Strive to find the magic that is |
| to your spouse. Encourage them to share | | | | waiting to be discovered in your spouse. |