The 4 Practices of Affectionate Marriage
Easy Ways to Cultivate Happiness, Expand the Bonds of Love and Fortify Your Relationship

The Four Practices of Affectionate Marriages
Creating and enjoying a blissful marriage is not by mere chance. An effort, time, and most importantly, love is needed. The good news is that there are certain habits that you and your significant other can take up easily to help bond with each other and enhance the joy. In this case, we are going to discuss the 4 Habits of Joy-Filled Marriages that Simple and Practical.
1. Play Together
Why It Matters:
Playfulness may seem like it’s for children alone but it actually forms a key element in making a marriage last. Couples who engage in play together strengthen their ties, share experiences and relieve tension at such times. The laughter and the enjoyment in such engagements remind the couple once again of the love of their youth and ensure that the flame of romance never burns low.
What It Looks Like:
Find shared hobbies: It can be playing a game both of you like, going for a walk, cooking, or dancing. The idea is to find something where both get equal pleasure.
Be spontaneous: Find an interesting and fun activity to surprise one another with. Things like a sudden picnic or a brave dance in the living room can cause excitement.
Take it easy: Know when to chuckle over an error or a tiny bout angry and moving on. Being able to laugh off situations helps ease any hostile environment.
Practical Tip:
Set aside some time in the week to do something fun. It does not matter how much it costs or how grand it is – the point is that you are together and having a good time. Engaging in play or any activity which arouses laughter for even just 15 because a silly activity joins our hearts together.
2. Listen for Emotion
Why It Matters:
Communication within a relationship is not just speaking; it means connecting with your companion. Listening for emotion is understanding your spouse beyond their words, it is sensing their feelings. When you demonstrate understanding, it’s warming and you help your partner trust you as well as creating closeness emotionally.
What It Appears Like:
Be in the moment: Avoid interruptions such as your mobile device and maintain eye contact on your spouse when they are talking.
Listen to the emotions: Before even begin to fix anything, try to absorb what your partner is trying to say and the feelings attached to it. If your significant other says, “I had a long day at work,” do not simply say, “I am sorry. How can I help you?” Rather say, “That’s rough. How are you coping with it?”
Acknowledge their feelings: Communication is not only meant for transmitting information but also for ensuring that one’s spouse knows that their spouses feelings have been received and understood. Something like, “To overcome that must be very hard” or “I see reasons as to why you would feel like that” is an empathic way of communicating.
Pratical Tip:
In the course of your usual conversations, throw in such open-ended questions as “What were the feelings in that respect?” or “What have you been thinking of, of late?” It is this very simple technique that builds more profound levels of emotional intimacy.
3. Give gratitude every single day
Why Is This Important:
If gratitude can wear pants, it would be a pair of those very tight stretchy pants as it kind of holds most relationships together. Consequently, if you make it a point to appreciate your spouse, it helps in enhancing the aura of the marriage. No one ever wants to be neglected and that is why there is also the need for appreciation so that one’s spouse knows they are appreciated.
How It Appears:
‘Thank you’ is not a phrase to shy away from using: Appreciate every little detail whether it is making coffee or taking the garbage out.
Say nice things: Appreciate their unique abilities and tell them the things you deem interesting about them. To explain, ‘I like the way you care as it makes me feel special’ while ‘I grin every day because of you’ will suffice.
Put it in Writing: Make small stickers with praise and stick them where your spouse can easily spot them, such as their lunch box or on the toilet mirror.
Practical Tip:
Make it a norm to say something you are grateful of concerning your partner every other day. It can be an action they performed on that particular day or even a characteristic you appreciate in them. Eventually, these little fixings of thank you in practice turns out to be a heavy load.
4. Cultivate a Rhythm
Why This Is Important:
In the midst of a busy life, there can be regular cycles and schedules which may help couples remain attached. It helps firm up the relationship when time is carved out for each other. It makes it possible for the relationship not get lost in the busy daily routine.
What It Comprises:
Plan date nights: Make it a point to keep some time aside on a regular basis for the two of you whether it involves going out for an elaborate dinner or staying in and watching t.v. on a quiet night.
Daily Check-Ins: Making time every day i.e. allotting only a few minutes after work or in between work schedules to discuss how each party is doing. Or a quick conversation whilst having a meal or just before sleeping can do miracles.
Mark special occasions: Create customs such as Sunday pancakes or yearly family retreats that you both look forward to.
Share a prayer or silence: For couples who are spiritual, such activities help not only in prayer but also towards development of the relationship as a couple.
Practical Tip:
Get a weekly plan for couples’ time and adhere to it. Unfortunately, life will scale up to rollercoaster levels, but these times will be regarded as a must attend portion in order to avoid giving room for complacency and latter fallouts in the marriage.

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