4 Steps to BUILDING AN INTERDEPENDENT MARRIAGE

Written by Aaron & April Jacob

You met, you fell madly in love, you got married. The honeymoon was like floating on cloud nine. Now what? You're two different people, with different talents, gifts, passions, and dreams. Pursuing those dreams while merging your lives together isn't always easy.

What's the key to acing this test and building your dream marriage? In short, you need to become independently dependent. 

Try out these four steps to help you build an interdependent marriage.

1) "You" is now plural.

Before worrying about how to maintain your independence in marriage, first figure out how to work as a team. Build unity, trust, and confidence in one another. Become a strong companionship and learn to depend on each other.

Your life now becomes YOUR life. What we mean is that "you" is no longer singular - it's plural. That doesn't mean you lose your identity - it means you gain a best friend and partner! You no longer act in isolation because your actions directly impact more than just you. Now, your marriage becomes an interdependent one. Where you and your spouse rely on each other and support each other. Where you work as a team in all things.

When I (Aaron) was getting ready to graduate, I interviewed for several jobs. In one of those many job interviews, the interviewer stopped me after one of my responses and said, "You say 'we' and 'our' more than anyone I've ever met." I hadn't noticed it before, but he was right (and he probably thought it was slightly creepy).

​I wasn't sure how to interpret his response at the time - but I now consider it a compliment. He was used to interviewing mostly single students who would respond to questions using "me" and "I" statements, but when interviewing me, he had noticed that I almost exclusively used "we" and "our," statements. That's because I never considered important career decisions to be mine alone - they were OUR decisions to make together as husband and wife. April and I were (and are) a team.

2) Choose to be selfless, not selfish.

Building, creating, and fostering a happy marriage is not easy. But, you know what's harder?... Not building, creating, and fostering a happy marriage.

Why?

​Because choosing to build a happy marriage leads to great satisfaction and fulfillment; whereas failing to build a happy marriage leads to a lot of regret and sadness.

So, what's the key to creating this happy marriage? One word - selflessness.

Being each other's companions for life and beyond requires sacrifice on both parts. There's a constant need for give and take, and for compromise. The key is to put your spouse's needs and desires above your own - to be more concerned with him or her, than you are with yourself (which is no easy task!).

In addition, it's important to recognize the sacrifices your spouse makes for you and to express gratitude to them sincerely and often.

READ: 100 WAYS TO SERVE YOUR SPOUSE

Remember, selfish play doesn't win games - teamwork does. One of the beautiful things about marriage is that the two of you together can accomplish, create, and achieve far more than you ever could on your own. Aristotle explained this well when he said, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

Nowhere is this more true than in marriage. So, choose to be selfless, not selfish.

3) Give him or her wings to fly.

"What does it mean to give your spouse 'wings to fly?' It means being his or her constant support through thick and thin. It's being their greatest cheerleader, providing encouragement every step of the way. It's believing in them even when no one else does. It's pushing and helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations."

We think the greatest compliment we've ever heard one spouse give to another is when a wife told her husband, "You have always given me wings to fly." While we never personally observed this couple "up close and personal," we imagine their marriage was remarkable to be deserving of such a compliment!

What does it mean to give your spouse "wings to fly?" It means being his or her constant support through thick and thin. It's being their greatest cheerleader, providing encouragement every step of the way. 

It's believing in them even when no one else does. It's pushing and helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations.

What does this look like? It could be taking the kids for the afternoon while your spouse enjoys a much needed break and some time alone. It's taking on a few more responsibilities at home while your spouse is working late preparing for a big presentation. It's happily and patiently putting up with hours of study and many late nights getting through school. It's encouraging them to take that painting class they have always wanted to take, even if they feel like that season has passed.
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​A great example of this to us is our brother-in-law, who recently indulged his wife in her love of photography. Sure, the new camera was expensive and those classes take time, but he's showing her, in tangible ways, how he loves her - he's giving her wings to fly.

READ: 3 SECRETS TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE

4) Be comfortable in your own shoes.

At the end of the day, you (plural) create your own life together as well as your own happy marriage. Enjoy the journey! Be patient with yourself when things are moving slowly and the road seems rough. Everyone has those moments, so don't stress out.

Remember that your version of a "happy marriage" may look different than your parent's, or your neighbor's, or your friend's versions - and that is okay!

The trick is to be confident and comfortable in your own shoes. 

It's easy to feel pressure to follow popular trends, to keep up with the crowd, to feel like your personal worth is dependent on the next promotion, or any of the other ways we try to "keep up with the Jones'."

Unfortunately, yielding to those pressures rarely leads to real satisfaction.

Instead, resist the temptation to look sideways at what others are doing. It's okay that you do things a little differently. Just keep moving forward.

These four steps are simple, really, but they will go a long way in helping you to build your dream marriage - an interdependent one - so that you and your spouse both become the people you ultimately want to be, together.

Photo Credit: Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels

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