Every marriage is a two-way street, and while we aren’t completely responsible for our spouse’s happiness, each of us can make an effort to make the person we love’s life easier, happier, and more fulfilling – and by doing so, strengthen the marriage and make your relationship more easy going!

So, with that in mind, here are some ideas geared toward husbands. Take these tips into consideration and provide some happiness in your wife’s life!

1. Know More About Her

What’s your wife’s favorite movie? Favorite band? What’s the last book she read? What’s been going on her work life? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, it’s high time you found out. Ask good questions and really listen to the answers. The more you know about her – especially those “unimportant” little details – the more loved she will feel!

2. Be Deliberately Positive

Take a good look at how you’re interacting with your wife… Could you be making an effort to be a little more cheerful? Are you doing your best to avoid taking your workday stress or other issues out on her?

So much of the way we interact with each other is determined by tone and body language, and when we’re being snappy or irritated, or seem disinterested and aloof, it almost automatically creates a “negative vibe” in a given conversation. Try being intentionally positive – even enthusiastic – when you communicate with your wife, and just watch what a difference it makes!

3. Let Her Know You Love Her In Creative Ways

This is your chance to think outside the box a little bit! It’s always great to remind your wife how much you love her, but for a little added effect, get creative! Leave her cute notes, surprise her with signs of affection like flowers to her office or having her favorite meal waiting when she gets home. Figure out the dates of obscure anniversaries (like the day you moved into your house or your engagement day) and make a celebration out of them.

It’s not so much the act itself that counts, but that you were thinking enough about her to go the extra mile and let her know how much she truly means to you.

4. Talk About Finances Openly

Because money is one of the most common things couples fight about, you can largely avoid the issue by talking about finances in a totally transparent way. You don’t have to sit down and have a budget meeting once a week, just make it a part of your normal conversation. Let her know what expenses you might have coming up, talk about major purchases together, and encourage each other to be totally open and honest about spending.

5. Perform Random Acts of Kindness

We should be kind to each other at all times, but taking the extra step to do something for your wife (simply so she doesn’t have to) both shows your love AND offers her some relief! This could be anything: taking care of a chore that she usually does, brushing off her car in the winter, offering to take care of a project around the house that she has been talking about, or even one step further – surprising her with a day of pampered relaxation where you handle all the details!

It’s just another way to show how much you care.

6. Don’t Be Afraid of Counseling

Even if things are going ok in your marriage (or even if they’re going really well), it never hurts to learn more about relationships, learn more about how your own thoughts and behaviors affect your marriage, and all of the other things that make your marriage tick.

Whether it’s professional counseling, books, or online resources like StrongMarriageNow, making an effort to know more about the general ins and outs of marriage – and how they apply to your unique relationship – is a way to both make massive improvements AND show your wife how invested you are in having the best possible marriage!

7. Plan Some Fun

Break out the calendar and actually put some dates and fun activities in writing! Plan out your game nights, your dates, your adventures – and stick to them! Not only will this help ensure that you follow through with them, it will also help grow anticipation and excitement as you get closer to the event! It could be anything from putt-putt golf to making resort reservations…

Planning things out shows your wife commitment, and gives you both something to look forward to.

These are just a few ideas for making your marriage run more smoothly. The happier you both are, the more lighthearted you will be with each other, the more room you’ll have for fun and love, and the more likely you will be to let conflicts and potential problems just roll off your backs. To be happily married, first you have to be happy!

For more advice on how to strengthen your marriage, check out the StrongMarriageNow System today!
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Dr. Dana Fillmore and Amy Barnhart, co-Founders, StrongMarriageNow.com