In your opinion, what is the 3 (three) most important elements in a loving marriage?

Question

I have my ideas (been married for 11 years) but what are your three most important elements to make a lasting marriage successful?

Some very good answers so far......I'm giving a thumbs up to you all.

I posted the opposite to this question here. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsTrCN2v8BppTmAdWuOFQtfsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071018083548AASeHII

Answer 1

To me there is one main element and 4 sub-elements to create and keep a loving, lasting marriage:

1. True Love: Both people must love each other beyond words or expression. Like the saying goes you shouldn't marry the person you can live with, but the person you can't live without.

a. Passion: Both people working hard to keep that fire burning in their marriage. It is so easy to get into the "brother/sister" mode and forget about that spark that brought you together. Sex is not only fun, but it bonds you to that person and it's so very important to make the bedroom a priority in your marriage.
b. Compromise: Both people must be willing to give and take equally. It can't be 'my' way all the time. We have to learn to not sweat the small stuff and let things go that just aren't that important, because when it comes to being married the 'big' picture it what really matters.
c. Forgiveness: Both people must learn to forgive their partners short comings and mistakes. We can't hold onto grudges and past wrongs in a marriage. Negative thinking builds resentment and that can destroy the very foundation a relationship was built on.
d. Determination: Both people have to be determined to make the marriage work no matter what happens. You have to make take that vow and make the choice to stick to it. There will be hard times in marriage, but with determination you know that both of you will be stronger and with every mountain there is a valley ahead.

With all that being said...I go back to true love. If two people truly love each other they will have the passion they need to keep the spark alive, the desire to compromise to keep peace, a forgiving heart and blind eyes to look over each others mistakes, and the determination to stay together through the good times and the bad. Love is a powerful thing.

Answer 2

1. Selflessness--which is thinking of others before self
2. Communication
3. Trust

I believe you have to be selfless to be in a successful marriage. You have to put the needs of your spouse ahead of your own. You have to support your spouse in all that he/she does.

I remember reading something once that said true love does not rejoice in the defeat of your spouse. When your spouse loses, you lose as well. Look at successful marriages, and you'll almost always see the couple is a team--they present a united front to the outside world. That takes communication--and lots of it.

Lastly, you have to trust each other. Not just that each other will remain faithful physically to each other, but you have to trust that each person is doing his or her best for the marriage. You have to trust your spouse when he or she says that a decision they have made is the right one, in regards to finances, child raising, etc. My husband and I each have our areas of expertise--we use each other's experience to better our lives together.

Good questions! Both of them!

Answer 3

Keeping the communication lines open
Keeping the sparks still going on
Telling the three little magical words " I Love You " very frequently in a day .

Answer 4

1. Communication

2. Commitment

3. Laughter

Answer 5

1. Compromise - You have to learn when to take one for the team. You can't win every argument and sometimes you have to just give in even when you know you're right.
2. Passion - Keep yourself sexy and desirable for your spouse and make your spouse feel like the sexiest person in the world
3. Honesty - Be able to talk openly about your feelings is paramount to any relationship

Answer 6

Here ya go...

1. Communication

2. Trust

3. Honesty

Answer 7

1. Passion....passion for each other, passion for life, passion for fun
2. Compromise....it isn't always about you, give and give some more, the most important thing is the marriage.
3. Respect...show and display respect for each other...as man and woman, husband and wife, as lovers, as friends

Answer 8

Communication
Respect
Love

Answer 9

Communication

Honesty

Unselfishness

Answer 10

Communication
Honesty
Respect

Once you have those elements love, fun, romance and everything else will fall in place.