Marriage & Long-term Relationships: Expert Guides and Resources

An anonymous writer put it this way: "Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you. Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by." ©Seventyfour / Adobe StockWriter Elisabeth Foley points out that friendship doubles your joy and divides your grief, and that the most beautiful discovery that true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.

From time to time, we all need to work a little harder with our partners at making our relationships the best they can be. This Cheat Sheet covers some of the key issues you’ll meet along the way. Keep it handy.Using listening techniques to improve your relationshipImproving communication is a key part of improving your relationship.

Your relationship with that special someone plays a large role in your life. First, you have to find The One and then take the time to develop the skills to build the relationship and keep it going. And because no relationship is without some conflict, you need to know how to resolve the disagreements that crop up so you can actually grow closer as you work things out.

Just as there are signs that you are ready to marry, there are also signs that you're not. A surprising number of people are able to look back on their marriages and say why they weren't ready to marry at that time, and how that lack of readiness contributed to their divorce. © Shutterstock Review your motivation for marriage before you wed to help you avoid making these mistakes.

After the initial passion and excitement of lust has faded, sex can start to feel routine and predictable for some couples, particularly if you’re both leading busy or stressful lives. There are lots of ways to liven up your sex life and put passion back into a relationship. Maintain a sexual connection with your partner If you’re working all day or busy raising a family, you may find that you stop seeing your partner as a lover.

In a healthy relationship, the overall quality of your life improves. You grow as a person because your partner in the relationship gives you the support you need to take more risks and face more challenges. A healthy relationship helps you feel good about yourself, other people, and your life. It allows you the freedom to relax, to be yourself, and to reach out to others in friendship.

When you’re assertive, you act like an equal and share your thoughts and feelings with the listener — and that draws you closer together. Assertiveness should be used only when you have equal power and status with someone — like your partner, your friends, and certain members of your family. Or you can choose to be assertive when you have more power over someone — for example, when you’re the boss.

Nothing’s better than a good relationship (although some people might make an argument for chocolate). When you’re in a good relationship, the birds sing and the sun shines — even in the dead of winter. You have love in your heart and a certain bounce in your step. Everything seems more alive and interesting, and you feel hopeful and full of life.

Remember that old movie line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry?” Well, forget it. When you love someone, you’ll need to apologize often — and mean it — or you can kiss your relationship goodbye! To keep your love thriving, you and your partner will need to work through problems in a direct, respectful way.