How do you know if you have a happy marriage?

My husband and I were married July 19, 2009. We love each other dearly and are always trying to make our marriage great for each other. So we enrolled in a marriage class January 2009. The class uses LDS curriculm. There are a number of married couples that have also joined the class. We all have joined the class for various reasons. Our purpose was that we are newly webs and we wanted to be the best husband and wife to each other that we can be. The class is lead by a wonderful older missionary couple. They have been married for 50 years. They have had a good marriage and you can tell by the way they talk during class and out of class.

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the class and one of the participants asked a very profound question. How do you know if you have a happy marriage?

I found a very good article that addresses this question that was put out by Missouri University. What follows is an excerpt from the article. Below the article is the link to the entire article.

Characteristics of Happy and Satisfying Marriages

Positivity

There are many ways to foster positivity in a marriage. Being affectionate, truly listening to each other, taking joy in each other's achievements and being playful are just a few examples of positive interactions that help make marriages successful.

Empathy

Husbands and wives are more content in their relationships when they perceive that their spouses truly understand their thoughts and feelings.

Commitment

When two people are truly dedicated to making their marriage work, despite the unavoidable challenges and obstacles that come, they are much more likely to have a relationship that lasts….when spouses are committed to investing in their marriage and are willing to sacrifice some of their own preferences for the good of the relationship, they usually have high-quality marriages.

Acceptance

When people feel that their spouses truly accept them for who they are, they are usually more secure and confident in their relationships.

Love and respect

It is vital that husbands and wives continue to cultivate love and respect for each other throughout their lives. If they do, it is highly likely that their relationships will remain happy and satisfying.

For more information on this article go to the following web site

http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/humanrel/gh6610.htm#characteristics