Sunday, 8 February 2009

What is the Most Important Thing in a Marriage?

What is the most important thing in a marriage relationship? Communication? The ability to resolve conflict?

Actually, neither.

While communication is important, just as is resolving conflict, experience with thousands of couples taught me that the most important thing is respect. That means giving esteem and honor as well as demonstrating regard and consideration to each other. Most of the couples we see in our workshop for marriages in crisis, LovePath 911, offer little or no respect to each other (or at least one to the other). Healthy, happy couples do. Much of our phenomenal success in saving marriages given up on by everyone else is due to our helping couples learn and put into practice this crucial truth.

So how does one respect another person, and communicate that respect in effective manner?

It all has to do with acceptance. People tend to paint a picture that they believe others wish to see. You may paint one picture at work, another at home, and still another at church. You paint those pictures because you want others to accept you. However, like the rest of us, it is likely that what you really want - deep in your heart - is to be loved for the person you are rather than the picture you paint. God knows that about human beings and made a point of telling us that He loves us "while we were yet sinners." (Rom 5:8)

Though you realize that no human can love as unconditionally as God, it's extremely likely that deep within you crave a mate with whom you can be your true self. The person who will know all your flaws, strengths, sins, and virtues, yet accepts and loves you anyway - even if he or she does not accept certain of your behaviors. Yet, when you fall in love, your beloved becomes the most frightening person to show yourself openly. What if your mate rejects you after when bare your soul? There is no way to take it back, to pretend you did not share what you shared. Therefore, you, as do so many others, probably hide at least part of your true self from the one you love.

So how does a marriage grow to a level where each can love the other as the person instead of the picture they want that person to be? To have the deepest love possible with your spouse, you must learn to accept yourself as you are and your companion as he or she is.

Allow me to share one of the most important things I have learned in life: "The most crucial dimension for falling in love is acceptance. I will not love a person that I do not accept, even if that person is me."

Jesus said it this way, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." It is a basic concept of life; if you do not love yourself properly, you will not love others well. The secret to falling in love and staying in love is to accept the imperfections and flaws that you have, even if you can do something about them. I call it satisfied dissatisfaction. Sound ridiculous, like some kind of double speak? Actually, it is based on a quote by the famous psychologist Carl Rogers, "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself as I am, then I change...we cannot change, we cannot move away from what we are, until we thoroughly accept what we are. Then change seems to come almost unnoticed." When you learn to love yourself, flaws and all, you then can learn to deeply love another as they are, not as the picture you wish them to be.

That, of course, leads to a very important question: What do you do if you are hurt by or do not like what your spouse tells you about him- or herself? Accept that his or her actions or feelings as true - even if that hurts - and from that acceptance grow into a deeper, more loving relationship. How? The key is found in this quote from Carl Rogers, "When we accept others as they are, they change." It again is satisfied dissatisfaction. Accept the person as he or she is - with all imperfections and flaws - and you will witness that person change for the better. Note that does not mean that you must accept all his/her behaviors (abuse, immorality, etc.) If you wish to see this type love demonstrated well, read the Gospels again and note how Jesus changed sinners by first accepting who they really were and then loving them into the people they could be.

If you feel accepted as you are, you feel loved. If you feel accepted only if you paint a picture that you believe your spouse wants you to be, you will doubt the depth of his or her love.

When you accept your mate as he or she is, that person feels loved. If your spouse feels accepted by you only when they paint the picture that you wish them to paint, they will doubt the depth of your love.

Learn to accept yourself as you are so that you can learn to accept the one you love as he or she is. This is the most important dimension of love. There is great research indicating that couples work out even the most difficult of problems when they learn to accept each other as they are - tolerance without resentment.

By Joe Beam

Marriage Expert Joe Beam offers seminars and resources for those having Marital Problems. The seminars offer real solutions for breakthrough, to help save marriages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Beam

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Three Things You Need to Know to Be Successful in Marriage

Marriages are made in heaven'! Be it a love marriage or an arranged marriage, it's a long term commitment that an individual takes for the entire period of his/her life! The love that blossoms between the husband and the wife in a marriage has to continue and the bond that flowers in a marriage has to remain sweet for the entire lifetime if it has to really be successful.

Staying married is tough when compared to getting married. You might love the whether when it is chill and cold. You may even hate the scorching sun. But you can never blame the weather and become unhappy just because the climate changes often. Likewise, married life is always a mix of both happiness and hardships. Whether it's going to be a roller coaster rise or a smooth and comforting journey, it all depends on the partners involved.

Are you aware of the top three things that can help you in being successful in marriage? Read ahead n get to know what they really are?

The three pillars that can make marriage successful are:

1.Trust for each other

This is the most critical factor that can make a marriage really successful.
If the husband starts suspecting on anything that the wife does at home or with the home finances or vice versa then the very incident spells friction and a weakening relationship. The sense of living for each other is important. The building of marriage has to be built on the pillars of the principles embraced by both the partners involved.

2.Mutual Respect and a Sense of Altruism

As a person, both the wife and the husband have to have mutual respect for each other. The spouse should know how his/her partner will act on a given situation. The husband and the wife are humans as individuals but the factor binding them should be their common faiths and beliefs on which their marriage is built upon.

Ego is the first enemy that can strain the relationship that comes up with a marriage. Stay away from egoistic feelings if you really want your marriage to be successful.

3.Endurance

Life is not always a bed of roses. Roses have thorns too. When you face a hardship or when you are in distress, its utmost duty of both the husband and the wife to work towards coming out of it. Passing the blame won't help in married life. Marriage is a life long commitment where endurance is a must to make it successful

By Pattrick Angaisn

If you are struggling to maintain a healthy relationship with your partner, then you need to sign up at our newsletter by clicking this link - http://www.howtosavemymarriage.net. For those who are looking for a happy marriage, click Romantic Rules.

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4 Clear Signs to Tell You That Your Marriage is Over and Dead - Do Not Say I Did Not Warn You

There are clear signs to tell you that your is over and dead; but some of us are too blind to see all the writings on the wall that your once happy marriage is already bankrupt and is in serious crisis. When you started the marriage journey together with your spouse, you pictured an active, happy and successful marriage life for yourself and your partner.

According to Proverbs 30: 33, "The squeezing of the nose is what brings forth blood, and the squeezing out of anger is what brings forth quarreling." That small discussion over how to reduce spending may quickly degenerate into an attack on each other's character ("you are spendthrift"). If your spouse "squeezes your nose" by attacking your character, you may be tempted to retaliate and this may lead into anger and escalation of the disagreement.

Here are 4 clear signs to tell you that your marriage is over and dead. Do not say I did not warn you!

Anger at every little thing
You and your spouse used to discuss and joke over every little issue of life in a hearty and comfortable manner. Now, the smallest word or remark leads to aggressive verbal attack and a violent slap. If this is the case, it suggests a deep-rooted resentment for your spouse. When marriage mates cannot control their tongue and anger, small remarks can quickly flare into serious fights or conflicts. Marriages that are repeatedly ravaged by such behavior are clear signs to tell you that your marriage is over and dead.

No more sex
Married couples who once frequently enjoyed the marriage bed together now begin to avoid each other like lepers, and there is no sign of making up after series of complaints by one partner, it is a clear sign to tell you that your marriage is over and dead.

Secretive
In the past, you and your spouse used to share and discuss minor issues together and suddenly, your spouse no longer informs you of a major investment. If your spouse no longer shares common information with you and no longer trust you with information, these are clear signs to tell you that your marriage is heading for the rock.

Late Night phone conversations
If your spouse begins to engage in nightly phone call conversations in a hush and low tone, know that your spouse is already enjoying a secret relationship outside. This is a clear sign to tell you that your marriage is over. Your spouse is already enjoying the relationship outside and is waiting to serve you with divorce papers.

Most marriage mates end up in divorce court because they are too blind to see the clear signs that their marriage is over. They wait until it is too late to get the necessary help to save their marriage and bring back the shine into the relationship.

By Barbara Kingsley-Johnson

Do you know that you can deal with marital problems before it swells up to the level of deep-seated resentment and hurt feelings which can cause your spouse to become emotionally detach from you? Did you know that there are specific techniques you need to help cast off the devil creeping into your marriage faster than you think? Learn the techniques now and teach it to your children to help eradicate the rising rate of divorce in our society now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Kingsley-Johnson

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Marriage Failure - Learn Why Your Marriage is Failing

Marriage failure is so much more common in the 21st century, unfortunately many couples do not stay together and divorces are very common. Fortunately, my newly revealed professional tips will guide you to success with your marriage and make sure that you don't experience marriage failure. Below are my newly revealed tips; follow these tips closely and you'll prevent your marriage from failing.

One common mistake of marriage failure is a lack communication, if you are not communicating with one another; expect your marriage to fail. Communication is an absolute necessity if you want to keep your marriage alive. If you do not know how to communicate properly, start off by talking to each other about current problems you're facing. This will enable you to begin communicating successfully and getting your marriage back on track.

Another common mistake of marriage failure is a lack of chemistry; chances are that you and your spouse are not as close as you once used to be. This is a huge problem, because you no longer communicate and begin to quickly lose interest. To get chemistry back to what it used to be: take your spouse out to eat, be romantic, and enjoy yourself connecting once again with your spouse. With solid communication and redeveloping chemistry you are one step closer to getting your marriage back and preventing marriage failure.

Sometimes these things are not enough, it's because a third party is involved. Don't fret, it's not too late, you can still save your marriage from marriage failure! If a third party is involved, you must end it quickly and confront your spouse about it. Playing dumb is not the answer and will only lead to hurt feelings, typically when you confront your spouse about a third party they will come clean if not continue trying, only do this if you're sure there is a third party involved. Once you've established the situation, begin working things out with building back your chemistry and also developing solid communication skills with one another.

Sometimes when these three tips aren't enough, more tips are needed. If you are curious on how to stop your marriage from failing, learn more tips on how to prevent marriage failure today!

By Rudy Pedraza

Discover how The Magic of Making Up can help you save your marriage and get your partner back by going to http://www.comegetanswers.com The Magic of Making Up now has over 6100 satisfied customers in over 67 countries!

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Marriage Advice - The Best Way to Stop Conflict

Conflict obviously can begin to damage your marriage. The more conflict, the less love and pleasure the both of you receive. If conflict continues over months or years, it can kill off your marriage. There are lots of courses and classes you can take on how to handle conflict in a healthy way. You can watch Dr Phil and read books and soon learn how to reduce the fighting and arguing in your relationship.

So learning to turn conflict into caresses, fight fair, and go for win win are good skills to develop that will reward you long term with a better marriage. But what if there was a way to stop conflict before it started? What if there was a way to reduce the conflict in your marriage by over 50%?

There is a way to stop conflict that you can use in your marriage today, within minutes from reading this page. This approach to stopping conflict is one of the most powerful you will ever find, and it is so simple it almost never gets talked about. The way to stop conflict before it gets started is to PLAY more in your marriage with your spouse.

That's right, Play! Studies have shown the more play there is in your relationship, the less conflict. It makes sense, doesn't it? You got into your relationship in the beginning because you liked to play with your partner. Go to movies, dinner, hikes, share coffee, go dancing, etc. In the beginning we all played a lot with our mates. In the beginning there was more play by far than fighting and conflict.

But then time passes and we get married. We have jobs and responsibilities and burdens and kids. Over time the play can begin to disappear from our marriage. And then the fighting and conflict will begin to increase.

So to stop fighting at the source start to play with your spouse more on purpose. Have one date night per week where you do something together you both enjoy. Find a few other times during the week to have spontaneous sex, fun or play with your mate. Add play back in with your spouse and observe what happens.

Increasing the play in your marriage will reduce the conflict. It may be difficult at first, if you've gotten out of the habit with each other, but it is fun to change that habit. So spend a little time planning to play and see for yourself how much conflict begins to diminish between you using this little secret.

By John Laney

You can discover more marriage advice in the book How To Have The Marriage You Want. Johnnie S Laney teaches courses on relationship intelligence. You can get a free course on 7 Vital Relationship Insights for your marriage here at Save Marriage Advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Laney

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Better a Marriage - 5 Ways You Can Better Yours

There are many things which can cause difficulties in your marriage, this article aims to reveal the top 5 things that cause harm to your marriage. Knowing these and how to avoid them will result in you having a better marriage and avoiding all the useless arguing and fighting you may be going through.

In my mind there are five main points that require attention when wanting to better your marriage. The first of these is having adequate respect for your partner. The number one reason why married couples begin to have problems is because they take there spouse for granted. Believing that your spouse will always be there or you no matter what is a mistake, having your spouse there for you is a privilege and needs to be treated as such if it is to remain. Dedicating time towards your spouse and making an effort to be thoughtful, appreciative, respectful and supportive ensures your relationship will stay healthy.

Not taking your spouse for granted goes far beyond simply remembering her birthday or buying her flowers. It involves understanding how they feel and being tuned in to their needs and desires. It involves being open with your spouse, listening to them when they are trying to communicate and treating everything they say with an open mind and understanding.

Secondly I believe that sex is one of the most important parts of your relationship, this is contrary to what many experts say. Remember back to when you first met and the first feelings of lust you had for one another. Leave romantic notes for your partner when your not there, flirt with your partner like you did when you first met. Don't let sex become nonexistent in your relationship. Allow time every week (or more if you want) to be intimate with your spouse. Try moving the television or other distractions out of the bedroom, try it in other rooms of the house. Pleasing and being pleased by your spouse helps to build emotional bonds, ensures each party is satisfied and will lead to a happier and more loving marriage.

Thirdly, don't become lazy. Agree to and do your fair share of chores and duties around the house. If you like living in a peaceful, relaxing and clean home then you and your spouse will need to devise and implement a maintenance plan. this will insure everyday tasks such as cooking, shopping, cleaning, child care etc. are taken care of and don't cause unnecessary arguments or troubles. In your marriage these tasks are joint responsibilities. Also take time when making your family budget, listen to what your partner wants and decide on a budget you are both happy with. An uncluttered, clean and organized home is a home that is conducive to creating a better relationship and ensuring a tranquil and stress free environment.

Finance can often be a major cause of problems in marriage. The both of you can have different ideas about what to do with your earnings and savings if you have not previously discussed your financial goals and aspirations. When money is tight, stress over paying bills and meeting other financial requirements can create disagreements between you and your spouse. Proper financial planning can help to overcome all of these problems, if necessary attend a few financial planning seminars or seek help from an expert. Discuss your financial plans and worries with your partner so you have an understanding where each of you stand.

Finally try to simplify and relax your everyday life. Take into account the time you spend at work, on hobbies or pastimes and compare this to quality time you spend with your spouse. Consider reevaluating some of your commitments in order to gain more time with your spouse. If you are over worked and stressed not spending enough time with your spouse can lead to a lack of interest and possibly even resentment. When you took your vows you both pledged to be their for one another, to make each other happy. This is as true today as the day of your marriage. Take it upon yourself to get back the marriage you and your partner deserve and want.

By Jon Caston

Getting your marriage back on track can seem like a daunting task. If you would like help getting your marriage back on track click here; Marriage problems for reviews of products we have found to be a notch above the rest. I also run a Marriage problems blog which contains a lot more information and articles on the topic of saving a dysfunctional marriage.

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Steps to Take If Your Husband Wants Out of the Marriage and You Still Love Him

If your husband wants out of the marriage and you are still deeply committed to the relationship, the two of you are at a crossroads. You have to make a decision about whether you are willing to give up a future with the man you married and love, or whether you are ready to move on without him. If you are determined to keep your family together, you need a plan of attack to win back your husband's love. It's not nearly as difficult as it sounds if you always remember that at one time he loved you deeply.

Marriages change and start falling apart for many reasons. The stresses of everyday life including paying bills and raising children can have a strong impact on how a couple interacts. Resentment can also build if you and your husband are struggling with any ongoing issues. Couples can often reach a point where they rarely talk because they know their discussions will become heated because of the tension already there between them. If this is happening in your relationship you need to take control of the situation. You need to find a solution to the problem and without a doubt that is going to mean compromise on your part. You have to weigh whether the issue at hand is worth risking your marriage for.

Another matter that is often at the root of difficulties in marriages is that the partners have just stopped appreciating each other. If your husband doesn't feel that you are grateful for what he brings to your life, his feelings for you are bound to shift. If your husband wants out of the marriage it's easy to tell him that you love him and are thankful for what he does for you, but it's much more effective if you show him. Start complimenting him and thank him when he contributes to the household or does specific things for you. Cook his favorite dinner and plan some activities that you know he enjoys. Make him feel special and valued again. That can go a long way to helping heal a broken relationship.

By Gillian Reynolds

Specific things you do and say can compel your husband to appreciate and love you more. Saying or doing the wrong thing can actually cause him to feel even more distant from you. You can make your husband fall even deeper in love with you than when you two first married.

You don't have to worry about whether your husband is on the brink of asking you for a divorce. You can control the situation and use specific techniques to naturally make him fall hopelessly in love with you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gillian_Reynolds

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Men and Divorce - What You Need to Know!

I do not want to disappoint you right off the bat, but to include all the information of what you need to know about surviving a divorce would easily fill a 100-page book. Fortunately there are many books and guides out that are excellent resources, and can cover all the bases from first realizing that your divorce is imminent to how to recover, both financially and emotionally. My goal is to point out the main issues that you need to be constantly thinking about during the entire divorce process.

The first key is to come to the realization that you marriage is not going well. It is not hard to pick up on the clues that neither of you are happy in your current situation. But the big question is what are you going to do about it. Marriage counseling is an option, but both of you need to put in the effort to make things better. One person cannot do it alone. A separation is also an option, but I personally do not advocate it. During my separation, I found that all we did was drift farther apart, and the arguing only seemed to get worse. The final and most likely option is just to admit that a divorce may be the only route to take.

When you come to that decision where you know that a divorce is the near future it is important that you don't panic. Don't run straight out and hire the first divorce attorney that you find. The key is to remain as level-headed as possible. Sure you should meet with several attorneys and consult with them about your divorce, but leave your checkbook at home. Look for advice, ask questions, and listen to what they have to say, but do not hand over that $2000 retainer until the time is right. Trust me you will know!

If you have the option to settle your divorce civilly then by all means work for it. It is a much smoother, less stressful process than having two divorce attorneys duke it out over who is going to get the living room furniture. Letting the divorce attorneys take control of the whole process is the quickest way to end up with a fat attorney bill when the whole thing is finally over. Do not bicker with your wife over small frivolous things. Try to come to some kind of agreement before getting the divorce attorneys involved. These attorneys tend to have knack for making situations worse than they actually are. So obviously you don't want them making all the decisions for you.

But if you are in a situation where you and your wife cannot seem to resolve the bigger issues, then it is time to allow the divorce attorneys "lead" you in the right direction. Unfortunately, this is when the legal fees start to build up, but when you are fighting for important issues like your home, your kids, and you livelihood, it is well worth the money to allow an "expert" do the negotiating for you. Especially if your wife is being unreasonable about important issues like, who gets custody of the kids, alimony/maintenance payments, and/or child support. You need to choose your battles wisely and fight for the important things. Don't ever let your emotions (ie. anger, spite, etc) take control of your decision making. That makes for a long divorce case, and believe me others will see what you are up to (especially the judge!).

The whole idea is to use your brain throughout the entire divorce process, and know what is truly worth fighting for. No matter what path your wife and her divorce attorney choose to take, you always need to be the bigger person. They want to make you angry. They want you to act on your emotions. They want you to make stupid mistakes. And I promise you the judge will take note of all of this. Don't let your wife play the victim of your divorce. That is the role that they want to portray and if they pull it off, I guarantee that you will end up on the losing end of this entire thing.

By Christoph Hickory

Take a look at all new Men's Divorce Headquarters where you can find a lot more free tips and information on the whole divorce process

There could easily be something on this site that could turn your whole case around.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christoph_Hickory

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3 Reasons Why Couples Break Up - Can You Prevent it From Happening?

Men and women are different in so many ways but it is undeniable that they need each other. Their physical and emotional desires make it possible for a romantic relationship to blossom. Unfortunately, not all couples have succeeded in keeping the relationship for good. Relationships are really complicated and there are a number of reasons why couples break up.

Here are the top 3 undeniable reasons why couples break up:

Incompatibility. This is one of the reasons why couples break up. Couples realize after being together for sometime that they have different outlook, wants and desires in life. Instead of enjoying their differences and learn from each other's uniqueness, they cannot find a common ground to achieve each other's needs and this incompatibility leads to separation. They failed to realize that it is not the degree of their differences that counts but how couples manage their differences or incompatibilities. There are issues of irreconcilable differences and they thought that the only way out is to take different paths and that is why couples break up eventually.

Falling out of love. This is another reason why couples break up. Couples have different reasons for falling out of love. Some admits that they've lost interest and desire with the relationship because it is so predictable and boring. Parenthood, jobs and careers brings challenges into the relationship and the excitement of the relationship is replaced by responsibilities and routine activities. It is a slow death and they allowed romance and love to disappear in the middle of all those responsibilities and routines and just woke up one day that they do not love their spouse anymore. The sameness, the lack of excitement and the lack of time for each other are some of the reasons for falling out of love and why couples break up.

Infidelity or getting attracted to someone else. This is the most painful reason why couples break up. Finding someone else and falling in love to the point that your spouse wants to leave you. When couples are faced with infidelity problems, most of them failed to survive and restore their marital relationship and end up in separation and divorce. They cannot imagine living with someone who's been unfaithful and a cheater that is why couples break up once infidelity becomes an issue. They overlooked the fact that infidelity does not always lead to separation and there are couples who tried to reconcile and succeeded. Of course there are lingering pains and resentment brought by the unfaithfulness and violation of your trust but there are couples who were able to overcome all these things and revived their marriage.

By Gerry Restrivera

If your relationship or marriage falls into these 3 categories and you are in the verge of separation, can you prevent it from happening? The answer is a resounding Yes! Discover proven methods to getting your marriage back on track and put an end to your stress and worries of not knowing what to do to save your marriage visit Save My Marriage Today

To know more about love and relationships visit All About Relationships

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including 3 Reasons Why Couples Break Up- Can You Prevent it From Happening? You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

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10 Ways To Avoid An Expensive And Messy Divorce!

Divorce is never an easy journey...and with limited resources these days, it is essential to think about the total process and your true goals before embarking on one of the most challenging experiences of your life. Listed below are Ten Ways To Avoid An Expensive and Messy Divorce and more importantly, ways to get you thinking about the process. Divorce itself is already a challenge...the Journey doesn't have to be. So get out a pen and paper and read on!

1. ADDRESS YOUR EMOTIONS: I know this may be an extremely difficult task, but it's very important BEFORE you can move on with your dissolution process and your life. If you are feeling angry, identify why you are angry. If you are hurt, identify for yourself why you are hurt, etc. If you are having difficulty identifying your feelings, it might be beneficial for you to contact either a family member or professional (maybe a therapist) who can help you deal with your emotions. From what I've seen lately, it's clear that before you can move on to deal with the dissolution or to move on with life in general, it's important to honestly address your emotions.

2. YOUR CHILDREN FEEL YOUR PAIN: Please always keep in mind that your children are watching you. They understand when you are upset and if you do not address their feelings, they to may begin to panic! Avoid stress as it relates to your children by listening to their concerns and identifying what you feel is appropriate to tell them about your approaching divorce. It might be beneficial to also allow your children to seek professional help if you feel it's necessary. Additionally, if possible, try to keep your children's schedule as "consistent" as possible during this difficult time.

3.DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU OWN: It is extremely important to identify what you own and all of your assets, i.e. your house or rental properties, your cars, 401(K), Retirement Accounts, Bank Accounts, etc. This will help identify what you may need to discuss with your divorce attorney and/or your spouse.

4. DO YOU KNOW YOUR DEBT: Identify the debt that you and your spouse may have. How many credit cards do you and your spouse own, is there a Line of Credit on your home? Do you have student loans? Did you take a loan on your 401 (k), etc.

5.WHAT'S YOUR BOTTOM LINE?: Once you have identified your children's needs, a breakdown of your assets, and a breakdown of your debts, it's important to ask yourself: What are my goals in terms of the assets, debts, the children? If your spouse asked you, "Honey what do you want?" What would be your response? Absent family, friends, attorneys and what you've heard about divorce, really take time to think about YOUR "Bottom Line."

6. MEDIATION v. LITIGATION: This is an extremely important decision. "Mediation" is a good choice if you and your spouse are seeking an alternative to "traditional litigation" and are willingly to attempt to work out your differences with a third party, instead of "litigating" or allowing the courts to decide your fate. Mediation also tends to be much cheaper! In Mediation you and your spouse negotiate your final outcome instead of attorneys and the court system. Your second option is what I call "traditional litigation." With this option, you both get attorneys, one side files for the divorce, the other side responds, you may have several court appearances etc. This option tends to be a bit more expensive and a bit longer than mediation.

7. COMMUNICATE: If possible, talk to your spouse and try your best to discuss what you feel is best for your family in terms of dividing your assets, your debts, doing what's best for your children, and how you wish to proceed with your divorce. This discussion might ease the difficulty and stress of the divorce and allow the two of you to begin to discuss your options.

8. MAKE A DECISION: Decide if you can what YOU and potentially your spouse think is best for your family in terms of "mediation" or "litigation." This will require you to decide if the two of you can work together with one attorney to meet your needs, or if you think you both need your own attorneys for possible court intervention.

9. CHOOSE AN ATTORNEY: Once you have done ALL of the above...then you must choose an attorney that best fits YOUR needs. You will at this point seek out someone who can either assist you as a "mediator" or "litigator" depending on your goals.

10. BREATHE! You are now on to the next chapter in your life.

By Demetria Graves

By: Demetria L. Graves, Esq.

The Law Offices of Demetria L. Graves

http://www.attorneygraves.com

What you receive from this article is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.

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How Do You React to Your Divorce?

When dealing with the end of any relationship, you go through a myriad of possible emotions. You may feel sad or angry or depressed. And when the relationship that ends happens to be a marriage that has come to divorce, those emotions may be magnified. How you choose to react to your divorce will be a determining factor in how long it takes you to get over and how well you end up after everything is said and done.

Just as easily as you might be depressed or unhappy, you can also choose to be happy or to see your divorce as a new start in life. Having this kind of perspective will drastically change how you are affected by the termination of your marriage. We all know that marriages do not just end. When people look back with the gift of hindsight, they are able to see the signs of it coming.

WHAT IS DONE IS DONE...

You cannot undo what has already done, so you have to realize that you have to allow yourself to get past the divorce and move on with your life. There is still so much that you can do to make your life enjoyable and fun. You can meet new people and do your own thing. If you have children, this is a time where you will be able to devote one on one time with your kids.

No matter how bad it may seem, it will get better. And when you react to it in a positive light, you will be able to see that you can move on and build a new and even better life for yourself.

By Bryan Appleton

Learn how to attract love, money, or happiness or all three in YOUR LIFE NOW! Go to http://www.successfulfather.com and SIGN up for the FREE newsletter and BOOKMARK the site and return as often as you can!

You can attract the life that you truly desire! All you have to do is learn HOW! Law of Attraction Secrets

Bryan Appleton is an investor/entrepreneuer who has dedicated himself to teaching others how to achieve their dream life. He is also a proud single father with one son.

You can publish this article as long as you leave it intact and in full as well as keeping the url link clickable.

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How to Stop Divorce When One of You Has Broken Trust

Many couples are seeking how to stop divorce. The chances of a newlywed couple suffering a divorce somewhere down the road in today's society runs about 50-50. People get divorced for a variety of reasons. But unfortunately, one of the most common is infidelity, and the broken trust it creates.

If you are the one who cheated on your spouse, then you have to realize that you have broken the trust that your spouse placed in you. You have to not only say you are going to change, you have to exhibit those changes. Actions will definitely speak louder than words in this case. The first step in how to stop divorce is to accept responsibility for your actions.

You must not give your spouse any reason at all to not believe that you have changed. Don't get caught in any kind of questionable environment or situation. Your spouse doesn't trust you (for good reason), and you only want to build their trust, not put more question marks around it. Don't deny or argue if they question your whereabouts or actions. You messed up, and if you really want to save your relationship and stop divorce, you are going to have to appease your spouse while that trust is being rebuilt.

But if you were not the one who is guilty of the infidelity, you first have to consider if you still want to be with your spouse. If you feel that you should give them another chance, put yourself in their shoes and try to understand how this happened. Treat them how you would want to be treated if the tables were reversed. Many times you can stop a divorce, but there are just as many times that infidelity will totally kill the relationship.

You can always ask friends who have had similar situations how to stop divorce. You should also consider professional counseling to stop a divorce before you break up. Do your best to find the best possible relationship advice that you can. After all, you both have much invested in your relationship.

It is quite natural to feel depressed while going through this type of trauma. You may even need to seek counseling for yourself. A marriage can be a great thing, but it can also bring an immense amount of stress and pain when broken trust is involved. There is help out there. Don't be afraid to ask for help on how to stop divorce.

By Lonnie Sallas

It is a very touchy thing to stop a divorce. There are hurt feelings, crushed expectations, and a general sense of failure for both parties involved. If you would like more detailed information on how to stop divorce, then click the link. I sincerely hope that you and your spouse can revive the love you once had and save your relationship. For even more articles and Free Videos on how to stop divorce, visit today.

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How to Protect Children During a Divorce - 3 Steps to Minimizing Emotional Impact

Divorce is an unpleasant and difficult life transition for most people. There is an ideal of commitment, a shared history, living arrangements, finances, and of course the situation with the children which undergoes a fundamental change and/or loss. For your children, divorce is a profound change that they did not choose and have no control over, and it can be very traumatic on them, particularly if the parents allow their own conflict, anger, and bitterness to affect their interactions with the children. There are some steps you can take to protect your child from some of the challenging emotional fall out of divorce:

1. Never badmouth your spouse in front of your children or to them. Yes, you may have a lot of pain and anger during the divorce process, and your intimate relationship with your spouse is ending, but the relationship between your ex spouse and your children continues. Don't put them in a position of feeling pressured to take sides, or to comfort you emotionally. That is what your adult support network - friends, family, therapist -- is for.

2. Don't apologize for the divorce and take all the blame for the event. Yes, this is a big change, but assigning blame to yourself, or your spouse, does not accurately explain the event or assist your children in healthy processing. If you left an abusive alcoholic who cheated on you multiple times, it isn't a bad thing that the marriage ended, so don't treat it as if it is. If your ex continues his or her ways, you will probably not need to say a word. Your children will likely come to understand.

3. Do honor your children's feelings about the divorce. Even if you are not apologizing or assigning blame, you can still let them know their feelings are valid. You can mirror back what your children are saying, such as "What I hear you saying is that you are hurt and angry that this is happening, is that right?" You can offer age appropriate truth. While it isn't necessary to tell all the dirty details, you can honestly say something like, "Your father and I get along better when we live in separate houses, and I can be a better mommy to you then." If you have any questions about what to say, you can speak with a counselor to determine what to say given your unique situation.

By Shannon E Cook

Are you interested in addressing your life challenges from a holistic standpoint, assessing the physical, emotional, and relationship components?

For a free copy of my ebook, "Natural Methods To Fight Depression", click here: http://www.stoptoxicrelationships.com/gifts-naturalmethodstofightdepression.html

Shannon Cook is a personal coach and resource guide who has written a number of informative articles and ebooks on the topic of toxic relationships and holistic personal growth, including physical, emotional and relationship health.

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Divorce - 5 Steps to Take BEFORE You Separate

A California Family Law Attorney Explains How To Protect Yourself Before Separating or Divorcing.

Making the decision to separate from your spouse is a difficult one to say the least. In an effort to make you more prepared during this tough transition period, here are the five top ten steps to take before your separate.

Pre Divorce Step 1 - Close all Joint Bank Accounts

Even as a legally separated couple, you are still financially responsible for all joint accounts. In addition, your spouse still has access to these accounts as well.

Pre Divorce Step 2 - Cancel All Joint Credit Cards

As long as both names are on the credit cards, you both will still have access to them. When you have made the decision to separate, make sure that joint credit cards are the first ties to sever. Community debt is debt that occurs while two people are joined in some sort of legal contract such as marriage.

IMPORTANT - Even if the family court judge orders your spouse to pay a debt, the debtor can still come after you if your spouse doesn't pay that debt.

Pre Divorce Step 3 - Redirect Direct Deposits

Any monies that are directly deposited into joint accounts should be redirected immediately to ensure your money stays your money.

Pre Divorce Step 4 - Cancel All Joint Lines of Credit On Jointly-Held Property

In addition to cutting off all lines of credit to mutual properties, try to pay off any or all joint loans. This will cut back on the ties that will bind you to each other down the road.

Pre Divorce Step 5 - Get Legal Advice

Before you separate from your spouse, you need to be equipped with the legal advice needed to get you through this trying time with as little damage to your life and family as possible. Having legal advice can optimize your results in the case of a divorce, especially in child custody issues.

By Gina Famularo

Family legal matters can be extremely emotional, frustrating and costly. Because of this, it is important that you get the right information BEFORE you take action regarding a divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, or any other important legal matter.

Get the information you need to make an intelligent, informed decision regarding your and/or your children's lives. http://www.TemeculaDivorce.com has a wealth of information available to you to help you properly navigate the legal system in Temecula, Murrieta, Hemet, Riverside, and the entire Inland Empire. If you need to speak with an attorney, we have professional, compassionate attorneys to assist you. For a free consultation, please go to http://www.TemeculaDivorce.com

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Top Six Predictors of Divorce - What You Can Do About the Things That Are Crippling Your Marriage

Is your marriage in a rough spot? Odds are that you and your spouse have some of these challenges which researchers call risk factors. If you and your spouse find yourself anywhere on your list don't despair these are simply risk factors and do not determine the future of your marriage and it probably just means that you will need some help or good information to help get on a path towards marital health.

Here is the list of the top 6 risk factors that predict divorce.

1. You married when you were teenagers.

Study after study shows that age at marriage is one of the most powerful and consistent predictors of marital stability. If you marry before you turn twenty, you are much likely to divorce.

2. You lived together before you were married.

This one is counter intuitive to most people because they assume that living together will increase the quality of their marriage. However study after study is showing that that divorce rates are constantly higher for those who live together before they are married.

3. Your parents were divorced.

If you are your spouse come from a divorced family you are more likely to get a divorce. However if one of you comes from a home where there was a good marriage model then these risks actually go down.

4. You get pregnant before you are married.

The good news is that couples with children actually have lower divorce rates however, if their child is born seven months or before they are married then their risk for divorce actually goes up.

5. You haven't been married very long.

Most divorces happen early, often in the first year and about half by year 7. It makes sense to stick it out and let your marriage have a chance.

6. You make less than $25,000 a year.

Issues around money are some of the most common and deadly to marriages.

So again, if you find yourself on this list just remember these are the things that you can't change. So if you are worried about your marriage, if you are fighting all the time, or if you are talking about divorce you should know that there is hope. With the right information and a willingness to work on your marriage you can save it and make it something that is life giving to you both.

By Kimberly P. James

So take action right now and learn How To Save Your Marriage simply Click Here and you can learn how to make the changes your marriage needs to survive and then thrive.

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