Marriage counselors and Experts who have come up with various theories on what constitutes a healthy married relationship, have all listed the following characteristics that go into building a healthy married life.

Healthy relationships are characterized by respect, sharing and trust. They are based on the belief that both partners are equal, that the power and control in the relationship are equally shared. Some of the characteristics of a healthy relationship are:

Take a close look at the modern day divorce trends. What strikes you first is that education, wealth, commitment and smartness have nothing to do with what leads to eventual separation or divorce. This is both confounding and scary.

T.D.Jakes in his book ‘The Great Investment’ says “Life is like a puzzle: amid these oddly shaped pieces there are two that fit each other. They don’t fit because they are perfect, they fit because they are perfect for each other. Apart, they are two pieces without definition; together they complement each other and take on meaning.” This then is the joy of marriage. It is up to us to see that our marriage is successful.

What damages a marriage?

Sure, everyone knows how important compatibility is for a marriage to remain happy and successful. All marriage sites too lay emphasis on this when they try to help you locate a mate. But is that all one should look for when selecting a life partner? According to some marriage counselors, compatibility will help your marriage, but not as much as you think it will. So what then are the real factors that make for a happy marriage? These rather important ‘ingredients’ that help a marriage to sustain and be successful are respect, acceptance, emotional connect and communication.

This was considered a hot topic for discussion a few years back, when the western influence had just begun to be felt in our insulated Indian society. Those were the days when the word ‘divorce’ was totally taboo and referred to in hushed tones. Bur the scenario today is vastly different – call it the result of globalisation if you wish – but no one can deny the impact of western thinking on our society.

A woman woke in the middle of the night to find her husband missing from their bed. In the stillness of the house, she could hear a muffled sound downstairs.

She went downstairs and looked all around, still not finding her husband. Listening again, she could definitely hear moaning. She went down to the basement to find her husband,
crouched in the corner facing the wall, sobbing.