by Mario Carini

Created on: November 21, 2010

One in two marriages today end in divorce. But divorce does not have to happen if steps are taken to insure that the institution remains strong between husband and wife.

If you want to save your marriage before it starts to unravel, here are ten steps that can insure that your marriage stays, prosperous and away from the divorce courts.

1. Communicate regularly. Being able to talk and listen to what your partner says is extremely important. Husband and wife in many marriages today don't talk enough. They speak in generalities. Often they don't really say what's on their minds in fear they might offend their partner. You can't assume that your spouse isn't interested in your work day. Expressing your opinions may stir up an interesting conversation. One cardinal rule in regular communication is in talking more about the other person's interests rather than your own. If your only contact is arguing over the family financial affairs, your marriage is in trouble in more ways than one.

2. Give out compliments. Do it regularly. Your spouse is not immune to hearing how valuable he or she is to you. He or she wants to feel they are needed. Compliments should not be limited to just birthdays or holidays. Dish out those compliments every day for no reason at all.

3. Spend time together. Today's world demands a lot from everyone. The stress placed on keeping a marriage together is enormous. Husband and wife drift apart, concerned about their jobs and making ends meet. They work overtime hours, rush to meet the needs of their children, yet fail to enjoy each others company. The only way to cement a relationship is by taking every precious moment for personal contact.Your marital relationship should take top priority.

4. Focus on the positives. During the dating phase, both man and woman are willing to overlook the faults of the other person. That shouldn't be any different in the marriage. The focus should be on seeing the skills and talents your partner brings to the union. You should center your thoughts on a promising and wealthy future that includes every member of the family.

5. Have sex often. Not only does intercourse unite husband and wife physically, but it cements the psychological, mental and spiritual bonds. If sex is a problem, take course or eat the foods, like ginseng, vitamin E, that help enhance libido. A natural diet can enhance desire over drugs like Viagra and Cialis. However, you need to weigh any dangers to the benefits before you resort to taking prescription medications.

6. Learn skills to handle conflict constructively. Arguments will happen in any relationship. Many husbands and wives would save their marriages with a little anger management. Too often we say things that are hurtful to the other person. Rather than find a common ground, they find every opportunity to vent anger and frustration. If you feel anger welling up, take a long walk to cool down or head for the gym and tear up a punching bag. That's a better method than punching your spouse.

7. Demonstrate love in the little things. Most women would welcome a bouquet of flowers over a trip to Paris. Your spouse would rather you took the time to wash the dishes and clean the house while she relaxes on the sofa to listen to soft music on a DC you bought for her. It's the little things that matter most. So you can set aside the money for that big trip and put it into your retirement fund.

There are many methods to save your marriage. But employing these points will prevent your marriage from ever falling apart.

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