Marriage is a union between two people that hopefully lasts forever. But how do you know if a marriage will really stick? One way to see how strong the bond is, is to observe how well you both communicate with each other. You may feel you’re ready for marriage. But if you aren’t able to talk about the following things with your partner, you may want to think twice.
What’s important to both of you (your values and future goals)
What do you value? Having children? Dogs? Going to church every week? If your significant other doesn’t take what’s important to you seriously, the relationship may not have a bright future. A partner should be interested in what the other cares about, even if it’s not their priority.
Your thoughts and emotions
The act of verbalizing how you’re feeling with your partner can go a long way in resolving issues that couples may face. It’s important to be able to share what’s on your mind and vice versa. Not only does it strengthen the relationship, it keeps you from bottling up your emotions, which is unhealthy (physically and mentally). Plus, knowing that you have someone who will listen to you no matter what is reassuring.
Finances
In any relationship, financial matters play a key role. Since money will be flowing in and out of a shared household, it’s necessary to understand each other’s spending and saving habits. It may be uncomfortable or embarrassing to expose your income or expenses at first, but you will be working together as a team.
Intimacy
Intimacy isn’t exclusively just about sex. Yes, it’s an important part of it, but it goes deeper than what’s involved in the bedroom. Talk to each other about what works and what doesn’t. A study from the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy found that partners who communicated found their sex life more satisfying.
Personal space
Although quality time together is essential, spending time away from each other is just as vital. Make sure that you and your partner both understand that alone time will be needed every so often to care for your own health, interests and loved ones. Negotiating time together and time alone is crucial in a healthy, growing relationship.
