You’re not just planning a wedding, you’re building a life. Marriage enjoys a luxurious level of commitment that makes it a more stable institution than any other, radically improving the happiness potential of your life. But that doesn’t mean it’s always a cakewalk. When marriages hit rocky patches, Arthur Brooks offers 2 rules than can save any marriage.
Mr. Brooks is a social scientist and author of, “The Meaning of Your Life.” Before we discuss his 2 rules, some quick marriage stats from Google A.I.:
- 58% to 61% of first marriages never divorce. But the divorce rate increases for second and third marriages. By contrast, only
38% of couples that cohabitate stay together at least a decade. - The good news is that divorce rates have been in decline since the 1980s. One reason may be that younger generations are marrying later.
- Couples with higher levels of education and income are less likely to divorce.
- When divorce does occur, 4 out of 10 occur within the first decade, peaking at year five.
You should consider Mr. Brooks’ rules not only as a curative for troubled marriages, but as a potent preventative measure. Here’s what he says:
“I can practically save a marriage by telling them they have to get back on the oxytocin express [or as the slang term goes, the ‘love hormone’] and the way to do this is two simple rules, and this is how marriages fall apart: they stop touching … and they stop looking each other in the eyes.”
You can watch Mr. Brooks’ entire response above.
Touch and eye contact. They are keys to happy marriages. The combination says to your spouse, you matter to me. Touch is a key way we communicate love and affection.
Stop touching, and love and affection fades. Keep touching, love grows.
Arthur Brooks is known as a happiness guru who relies on research to animate the path to happiness in marriage. Research shows, says Brooks, that happiness doesn’t just fall into your lap, but occurs through the intentional cultivation of four pillars:
- Faith. “Experiencing a sense of perspective and feeling small in the grand expanse of the universe. This does not require a traditional religion, but rather a dedicated, structured practice that gives you awe and peace.”
- Family. “Deepening your connections with relatives and focusing on managing expectations and building trust.”
- Friendships. “Cultivating deep, mutual bonds. Brooks emphasizes focusing on “real” friends rather than just transactional “deal” friends.”
- Work. “Engaging in meaningful work that serves others and allows you to feel productive.”
Marriage is the most joyous occasion of life, as it ushers in so many blessings: family and rich friendships. It provides healthy balance to our work lives.
As you plan your upcoming Columbus wedding celebration, Arthur Brooks suggest your life is about to get better. And to make your wedding celebration even better, call Columbus Pro DJs, the wedding specialists. Let us pack the dance floor and maximize the fun at your event.
