Marriage can be amazing if all goes well. It’s a good idea to look for ways to make it work if you are struggling. Seeking out solutions to possible issues before they happen is the best way to proceed since prevention will always be better than cure. That said, here are five tips about marriage that people in Rochester should keep in mind.

1. Communication is Important

With between two and three million temporary restraining orders going into effect each year in the United States, it’s important for married people to avoid getting to this point. Clear and open communication is an important part of everyday life. This is because things will be better understood and issues can be easier to solve when each person has put their thoughts across. That said, it’s important to listen to each other with the aim to hear and understand, rather than do so to simply respond. Take time from the start to improve your communication, and things may be a lot better for your marriage.

2. Work on Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution can either make or break a marriage. For this reason, you need to come up with a way of managing any disputes that come up. Start with an open mind with the full knowledge that neither of you is perfect. This should make it easier for you to be accepting of your partner and be willing to compromise. If you can settle issues amicably, then your marriage will have a much higher chance of withstanding the test of time.

3. Trust is Crucial

As with almost all other relationships and interactions that human beings have, trust is crucial. You should work hard at improving the levels of trust that exist in your marriage. Rather than being a destination, trust is a journey, with each moment presenting potential challenges that you must overcome. Remember that it’s extremely difficult to build trust that’s been broken and you may be inspired by this to do your best to make sure it does not get broken in the first place. Doing this may help you avoid getting entangled in a civil lawsuit, of which less than 1% end up in front of a jury.

4. Be Prepared for Ups and Downs

While the honeymoon phase feels amazing and every couple wants it to last forever, this may not be the case. There will be ups and downs that you must persevere through. Proceed with this fact in mind so that you don’t end up with expectations that aren’t particularly realistic. Prepare for this so that you are both ready for any eventuality and you can come up with a constructive way forward.

5. Know Your Options

Finally, while no one goes into a marriage expecting that it won’t work out, it’s important to know that this is a possibility. This is cemented by the fact that, in the United States, a marriage lasts for an average of 8.2 years. While you should work hard to make sure that this doesn’t happen, it’s good to be ready for it so that it does not disrupt your life if it does. When things get out of hand, make sure that you’re ready to let go. This is because some relationships can be toxic to people and leave their lives in a terrible state if you keep holding on to them.

When you keep these facts in mind, you may have an easier time keeping your marriage happy. Try to get your spouse on the same page as yourself so that you are working together towards a common goal. After this, you could get the chance to look back at the years you’ve lived together and smile over the memories you made together.