4 ways to take your marriage from average to awesome

Last updated on: January 12, 2015 at 10:28 am by Dave Willis

4 ways to take your marriage from average to awesome 2015-01-12T10:28:04-05:00 Dave Willis

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How would you rate your marriage right now? Are you happier, healthier and more fulfilled than you’ve ever been, or have the struggles and daily grind of life put your romance on the back burner? I believe we all want our marriages to be awesome, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to make it a reality.

I live in the “real world” just like you, and I know that not everyday can look like a honeymoon, but I also strongly believe that most married couples settle for an existence of mediocrity when something much greater is within their reach. As I’ve interacted with couples from all over the globe, I’ve found some trends that can help move a marriage from “average” to “awesome.” Here’s how to get started:

happy couple 1

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com

1. Don’t let fantasy take you away from reality.

There’s a strong temptation in marriage to spice things up by escaping into fantasy. For men, this usually involves porn and for women, this often involves movies or books which steamy story lines. It might feel like it’s “spicing things up” in the moment, but in the longterm, it is actually desensitizing you in dangerous ways. Our emotional detachment to those kinds of fantasies can ultimately create detachment in our marriages. Work together to make your reality something better than any fantasy.

2. Create “Milestone Memories” together.

When you look back on your marriage, I believe a few key milestone memories will stand out. Those memories usually require planning and a strategic investment of time and resources to make it possible, but those investments pay off! Create a unified “bucket list” and find ways to share those experiences. For some creative ideas on how to do it, check out our FREE video series on The 4 Pillars of a Strong Marriage.

3. Keep discovering new things about each other.

Never think you’ve got your spouse completely figured out. Learning about each other is a lifelong voyage of discovery. Shares stories from your past, perspective on the present and hopes about the future. Ask each other these 21 Date Night Questions as a FUN way to get started!

4. Find a way to change the world together.

This one is easier than it sounds! The happiest couples I know tend to serve together in some kind of meaningful way. It may be volunteering in your community, serving in your church or supporting a cause that has significance to you both. For Ashley and me, it’s working together to help others build stronger marriages and it has definitely strengthened our own marriage in the process.

Some additional resources to help you take your marriage to a new level of health and strength is our most popular book iVow: Secrets to a Stronger Marriage which is now also available for download on iPhones and iPads. And our new video series on improving your sexual intimacy with your spouse.*

For daily marriage-building tools, please connect with me on twitter.

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