8 Ways To Fall In Love With Your Spouse All Over Again

It’s normal and natural for every couple to leave the honeymoon phase behind at some point in their relationship. After all, can you imagine being that head-over-heels in love all the time? However, relationship longevity doesn’t mean you have to grow apart; you just have to find new ways of growing together. If you’re looking for a place to start, here are some ideas for how you can experience the feeling of falling in love all over again, strengthen your relationship and look forward to many more happy years of marriage together. Time to get cozy! 1. Ask each other meaningful questions When was the last time you talked about something besides work or the children? Stagnation in conversation is understandable when you’ve been together awhile and you feel like you know most everything about your spouse. Roland Warren, president of the National Fatherhood Initiative, suggests several questions that can help draw spouses closer together: When you worry, what do you worry about most? When do you feel happiest? What one thing would make this the best year of our lives? What do you dream for yourself?For best results, ask these questions at a time and place when you won’t be interrupted. 2. Do something physically active together Sedentary activities, like watching TV together or reading in companionable silence, might be easy and relaxing, but they aren’t likely to kindle any sparks in your relationship. Once or twice a week, try doing something active together that gets your blood pumping. They also give you something new to talk about as a couple when conversation seems thin. You might find that when you have some alone time in the evening, that boost of adrenaline from your physical activities gives you energy to do more than just fall into bed and immediately go to sleep. 3. Surprise each other Another problem that arises in long-term relationships is a lack of spontaneity. When you both know what to expect, day after day, boredom starts to set in. Mix things up by giving each other small gifts or handwritten love notes. Plan a date night and set up babysitting, then surprise your spouse with all your prearranged plans. Anything that breaks up the monotony of the daily routine can count as a surprise. It’ll make you feel like you’re dating again… and that’s a good thing! 4. Criticize less When you first started dating, you might have thought your spouse had no flaws. As the years pass, however, and that initial glow fades, his weaknesses will become more and more apparent, and you might be tempted to criticize him, hoping to cure him or his shortcomings. However, psychologist Herriet Lerner reminds that constant criticism can spell disaster for a marriage relationship. Instead, she challenges couples to limit themselves to one criticism a day. “Practice saying that criticism in three sentences or less,” Lerner said. “Do this over time and you’ll see each other in a more positive light and likely rediscover why you fell in love in the first place.” 5. Take a trip, just the two of you This becomes more difficult when children enter the picture, but with careful planning, a weekend trip away with you and your spouse can be just the recharge your relationship needs. Even a single night away camping together or staying at a hotel in town can give you a chance to reconnect on a different level, and you could actually get to sleep in for once. Continue Below... http://www.clemmag.com/8-ways-to-fall-in-love-with-your-spouse-all-over-again/