YOUR QUIZ RESULTS ARE HERE, AND…
RED ALERT! IT MIGHT BE TIME TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.
Don’t underestimate the impact of your friends on your marriage. Researchers have a fancy term for this effect. They call it the “social contagion.” Your friends’ values, ideas about a healthy marriage, and even faithfulness are all contagious. It doesn’t take someone saying, “You know, you should really consider divorce…” and applying what we would call direct peer pressure. It can all happen on a level that we are not even directly conscious of. You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with. Your marriage is the sum of the people you spend time with individually and as a couple. Choose wisely.
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” -Unknown
The study, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Unless Everyone Else is Doing it Too: Social Network Effects on Divorce in a Longitudinal Sample” did discover something extremely hopeful. “Interestingly, only outside support from friends and family predicted marital success in the time period examined.” Did you catch that? The “social contagion” works positively, too! Have friends who are FOR your marriage!
You and your spouse need to be best friends. That requires both quality time and quantity of time. Where you invest is where you get your returns. Invest in your spouse and your marriage. Time invested with friends should improve you, and by extension, your marriage.
ACTION ITEMS:
- Think through your friends (individuals and couples) and ask yourself if they have a generally positive or generally negative influence on you and your marriage.
- Some people are outright toxic. (It doesn’t matter if you’ve known them forever.)
- Talk with your spouse about friendship standards and healthy boundaries with opposite-sex friends.
- Make Date Night a priority. You don’t have to do anything elaborate or spend a bunch of money. Just focus on spending time together enjoying and getting to know each other.
THE TOP HAND-PICKED FREE RESOURCES FOR YOUR MARRIAGE
ARE MY FRIENDS HURTING MY MARRIAGE?
Friendships are a valuable possession. Without them, you have an increased risk of loneliness. With them come connection and support. But what about when there’s a question mark as to whether the friendship is helping or hurting your marriage?
WHAT TO DO WHEN FRIENDS ARE HURTING YOUR MARRIAGE
So, your wife has that one friend you think she always wants to talk about your problems with? Or your husband has a buddy that you think he wants to spend more time with than you? Have you ever felt that friends get in the way of your marriage?
MY FRIENDS ARE GETTING DIVORCED AND IT’S AFFECTING MY MARRIAGE
You don’t give in to peer pressure, right? That was so Middle School! Surprisingly, adult you is still rather impressionable. Your chances of divorce just went up!
READY-MADE VIRTUAL AND DIY DATE NIGHTS!
You know date night makes you feel good, and it makes your marriage happier overall. But, how the heck are you supposed to do date night regularly? We’ve got you! Check out these free virtual and DIY date nights.
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