Enhancing marital enrichment is a must and it is always advisable to consult a clinical psychologist to improve one’s marital bond and marital satisfaction.Clinical psychologists approach Marriage is one of the institutions which can play an important role in moderating the health and well-being of spouses. Strengthen the marital bond to increase the love thereby marital satisfaction and health.
Relationships have been found to be associated with health and well-being. Recent research has shown that quality relationship significantly effects the well-being of people. Marriage is one of the institutions which can play an important role in moderating the health and well-being of spouses. It has been found that most of the problems in marriage life occur because of
1. Faulty, blaming and dehumanizing communication
2. Power struggle: When any one of the spouses try to dominate over the other spouse by underming his/her value
Spouses can enhance their marital satisfaction by using the following tips which not only strengthen the marital bond but also increase the love between them thereby marital satisfaction and their health. Clinical psychologists trained in marital enrichment suggests the following simple psychological methods to cultivate marital bliss among the spouses.
1. As Best friends: Marital life becomes highly satisfying when both the spouses consider each other as “Best Friends”. No one is either inferior or superior.
2. Expressing your positive emotional feelings for the spouse strengthen marital bond. Saying to your spouse “I love you dear, you are so nice and loving, you are looking great today” always make the bond very strong. Expressing your love and care through physical intimacy like kissing the spouse when leaving the home for work and on entering the home works great. Just asking the partners “How are you?” works great too.
3. Chore sharing: When spouses share the work with each other no one feels burdened up because of over work. This is also one of the methods to enhance marital bliss. Marital issues arise often when partners start perceiving I am working more than you. Following rigid gender stereotypes often causes marital problems.
4. Fixing some time whenever possible to go out for outing even for 30 minutes works great. Just take tea together in a café/any outing place is great. Remember relationship doesn’t always depend upon your material spending but just spending time outside with care and love is highly satisfying.
5. Giving gifts even a small chocolate works great for spouses
6. Always respect your spouse as a human being and focuses on his/her strengths. Always keep reminding each other’s strengths and positive traits that you like in your spouse.
7. Respecting your partners’ opinions, beliefs and allowing her/him to think independently as human being also brings marital bliss. Remember both independence and interdependence is key to marital bliss.
8. Always remember marriage life might bring some issues which might disturb any of the spouses. Having this realistic expectation is very important. Try to use problem-solving approach to deal with the issue at the earliest.
9. Avoid nagging, blaming and dehumanizing communication with your partner. If you have some issue with your partner about which you are not comfortable, always discuss with him/her when the partner is alone not in front of others
10. Always be empathetic with partner: Empathy is not the same as sympathy. It means trying to see the world also from the spouse point of view in terms of her beliefs and emotions. It helps connecting them together.
11. Partner’s should cherish each other life aspirations and help each other to achieve their respective life goals too. Marital relationship is both interdependent and independent. Both should be cherished.
12. Emotional validation: When the partner is upset about something, allow her/him to express her/his discomfort and expressing the concern does work great.
13. Humor: Spouses who make each other laugh on the jokes also strengthen the marital bond.
14. Loving “Nick name” of the spouse also strengthen the marital bliss. For example calling the spouse by some beautiful nickname works great.
15. Always keep watching marriage album/video each month or two months help a lot in enhancing marital bliss.
16.Always avoid discussing your partners’ fault in front of others. Always hide the faults and appreciate the strengths.
It is always advisable to consult a clinical psychologist to improve one’s marital bond and marital satisfaction.
Dr. Mustafa Nadeem Kirmani
Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology
Amity Institute of Clinical Psychology
Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon
Email: mnkirmani@ggn.amity.edu
Mob: 8295320920
