How to Break Bad Habits and Cultivate a Healthy Marriage

It takes two healthy spouses to make a satisfying relationship — but just one unhealthy spouse to weaken it.

That can cause trouble for people who don’t self-evaluate, who assume everything’s going well unless their spouse tells them otherwise. A better approach is to take accountability for the good of our marriage by attending to how we act and speak to our spouse. Each of us has both flaws and virtues, and it is our personal responsibility to improve ourselves for the overall health of our marriage.

Author, speaker, and licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. Randy Schroeder is joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to offer practical nuts and bolts advice that will help you avoid common relational mistakes and strengthen your marriage.

Dr. Schroeder recommends that individuals self-assess their contributions to their relationship by answering two questions:

1. What would I like about being married to me?

2. What would I dislike about being married to me?

Gratifying marriages consist of two people who are capable of possessing opposite opinions while engaging in mutually respectful discussions and finding healthy middle ground for the sake of their relationship.

Dr. Schroeder and I discussed meaningful ways to achieve a relationship like that, including:

Forgiveness as an essential ingredient to a healthy marriage.
How to guard the heart of your marriage.
How to reduce conflict and navigate it when it occurs.
Steps for pursuing financial harmony.
Healthy habits that form the foundation of a great marriage.

Listen to our full conversation on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.

While you’re online, why not take a few moments to try our free Marriage Assessment online tool? It will help you quickly determine what’s working well in your relationship and identify areas where you may need some improvement.

If your marriage is struggling, we have caring, Christian counselors who will listen, pray with you, and get you on a path toward healing and hope. They’ll also direct you to additional resources in your area if necessary. Call us, leave your name and number, and we’ll get back with you as soon as possible. The number during business hours is 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

If you’re on the brink of divorce, our Hope Restored marriage intensives can go a long way toward facilitating healing between you and your spouse and restoring your relationship. The number for Hope Restored is 1-866-875-2915, or click here. The intensives take place in four locations:

Branson, MO
Greenville, MI
Cave Creek, AZ
Wimberley, TX

Before I close, I’d like to extend an invitation for you to become a special partner with us through our monthly “Friends of Focus on the Family” program. When you do, I’ll send you a copy of Dr. Randy Schroeder’s book Simple Habits for Marital Happiness: Practical Skills and Tools That Build a Strong, Satisfying Relationship as a way of saying thank you for touching others with the love of Christ. You’ll also receive member-exclusive benefits. To make your pledge, or for more information, click here or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).