Take the Positive Marriage Challenge!by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 08 Sep 2009 11:26 AM Would you like to improve your marriage and get into the habit of nurturing it? It is pretty easy to do. Why not take the following positive marriage challenge? You can do this alone or with your spouse (even better). Nobody is perfect, and although we may understand how to nurture our marriages, that doesn't mean that we always do it. This challenge will make you more aware of certain positive things that you can do every day. Here we go! 1. Compliment more than you criticize. It is easy sometimes to let a criticism or complaint slip out. Maybe you woke up to dirty dishes in the sink after you cleaned the kitchen after bed, or maybe your spouse made you late to an important event. Maybe you simply had a bad day and need to vent out at someone. Whatever the reason, be aware of the times that you criticize and make sure to offer three positive compliments for each criticism that comes from your mouth. 2. Tell positive stories. Another easy trap to fall into is to vent negatively about your spouse to others. Sometimes this is done privately to a single person, and sometimes it is even done in a group and in front of your spouse! You don't want to paint a picture that your spouse is awful, incompetent, etc. There is nothing wrong with seeking good advice from a solid friend, but avoid telling negative stories just to vent. Instead, try the three-to-one ratio as above. Tell three positive stories for each time that you vent negatively. 3. Analyze the argument before you start it. There are some days when we are just raring to fight with someone. The anger just starts to take over. On other days, you can fall into an argument over something small. Before you say something that may start an argument, consider if the argument will be worth it. Will it solve an issue or create one? Well, that is a great start for now. I'll be back next week to see how everyone is doing. Meanwhile, please leave me a comment, and I'll respond right away. You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here! Related Articles: Taking on Challenges Together is Good for Marriage The Social Benefits of Marriage Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantmarriage tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags advice, marriage, marriage tips, realtionship Discuss this article
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