by Leigh Goessl

Created on: September 12, 2008   Last Updated: March 10, 2010

When a couple makes a commitment to get married it is done with the intention of staying together for a lifetime. Unfortunately the reality of it is after the honeymoon ends sometimes events or actions occur which may lead to marital discord, or worse, a divorce.

On occasion marital spats may start off small and seem insignificant but over the course of time grow to become a larger issue. Often these disagreements begin over simple actions. How many times have you heard of one spouse complaining because the towels were left on the floor? Cap left off the toothpaste? Or the garage door was left open and raccoons got in and knocked over the trash again?

Sometimes arguing or getting frustrated over their spouse's habits can go beyond what is considered the acceptable level and cause real marital strife. This scenario can typically be avoided because most minor 'bad' habits can be resolved with a little compromise, discussion and understanding.

However what about those activities which may not be so forgiving? There are some bad habits which are more severe and can immediately put a serious or permanent strain on a marriage. A mate who engages in really bad habits or behavior will likely ruin a marriage as time goes forward.

A person who is passionate about keeping a relationship solid understands the serious bad habits are the ones which should be shunned to keep a marriage happy, alive and intact.

Here are a few almost guaranteed ways a person can quickly put a serious wedge in their relationship:

*Not Listening to a Spouse

Communication is the foundation of any relationship and when one partner continuously "yesses" their mate or pretends to listen when their focus is really elsewhere, this can lead to problems. This habit will eventually lead to potentially serious problems in the marriage.

It is one thing to hear what a person is saying, but listening is another thing entirely. To maintain closeness in a marriage, it is important to have solid two-way communication.

*Infidelity

If an individual wants to ruin a marriage, a habit of cheating on a spouse is the quickest way to send wedded bliss packing. A partner who looks outside the marriage for sexual, and in many cases emotional, gratification, this kind of satisfaction is a hard pill to swallow for the betrayed spouse.

A one time infidelity is sometimes able to be worked through depending on the forgiveness level of the other partner and whether or not trust can be re-established. It could be another scenario

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