The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Main Ideas

• Building love maps: Couples should know as much as possible about each other, including dreams, fears, and goals.
• Nurturing fondness and admiration: It's important to maintain and express respect and admiration for each other.
• Turning towards each other: Couples should actively support each other, paying attention to their partner's needs and desires.
• Letting your partner influence you: It's important to consider your partner's opinions and feelings when making decisions.
• Solving solvable problems: Couples should be able to constructively resolve conflicts and find compromises.
• Overcoming gridlock: Couples should be able to handle unsolvable conflicts by accepting differences and finding ways to coexist.
• Creating shared meaning: Couples should work on creating a shared system of values, rituals, and traditions that strengthen their bond.