Maximizing the Happiness in Your Marriage

On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, I’m joined by researcher and author Shaunti Feldhahn, who explains what happy married couples do to be … well, happy.

Her premise is simple: the best way to have a good marriage is to learn what happy couples do and then emulate them. To discover what those things are, Shaunti surveyed thousands of married couples who reported high degrees of satisfaction in their marriage. Specifically, she asked what they did to lay a strong foundation for their relationship and how they handled problems when they developed.

Shaunti revealed the answers to those questions in a message recorded at a CONVENE Conference for Christian business leaders in Southern California. She shares:

• The prerequisite for a happy marriage.

• What to do when your spouse hurts your feelings.

• Five little things happy husbands and wives do for each other.

• What a wife says to her husband that has the same emotional impact as, “I love you.”

• Why sex is as much an emotional need to men as a physical one.

• Ways husbands can show their wives love.

Hear what people with thriving marriages do to maintain a happy relationship on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app. If you have a reasonably healthy marriage that could use a tune-up, Shaunti’s talk will be helpful.

If your marriage is struggling, give one of our counselors a call. We have marriage specialists who will call you back free of charge, spend some time with you on the phone, and refer you to a like-minded counselor in your area, if needed. The number during business hours is 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

And if your marriage is in serious trouble, I want to remind you about Hope Restored. If you’re on the brink of divorce, these marriage intensives can go a long way toward facilitating healing between you and your spouse and bringing restoration to 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

While you’re online, I also recommend that you take a few moments to try our free Marriage Assessment tool. It will help you quickly determine what’s working well in your relationship and identify areas where you may need some improvement.

Finally, Shaunti Feldhahn’s book The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Difference is available for a gift of any amount. For more information, click here or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).