Is It Time to Renew Your Marriage Contract

Your marriage contract is more than a marriage license. It’s a group of assumptions that you made about marriage and your partner and yourself. The assumptions you first made at age 22 may not fit at 42. No doubt the assumptions that guided you through those first years altered as you had children, then altered again as the children entered college or when you started a business or changed your profession and so on. Did you think to sit down and analyze what you wanted or what was best given each new set of circumstances? Did you discuss it together as a couple? Sadly most couples do not, which causes many couples to drift apart.

How can you renew your commitment to each other through a renegotiated marriage contract?

• Schedule a weekend away so you can relax and discuss this.
• Each should privately identify what he or she now wants from the marriage – write it down on a piece of paper.
• Be flexible with yourself and your partner as circumstances change.
• Let go of old ways that are no longer appropriate.
• Keep your basic values in tact.
• Identify goals that are in the best interests of your marriage and individually.
• Discuss with your partner how to divide family responsibilities equitably.
• Overcome the inevitable fears.

I often hear people say, “I’m not going to change; you knew who I was when you married me; you better be happy with that!” Things do change and people move on. All of us change daily and it’s doubtful that you’re the same person you were twenty years ago. And neither is your spouse. Complaints about change are coming from a place of fear…fear of change and fear of the unknown. Change is inevitable. It will either overtake you or you can plan a little and guide the change process. It’s your choice.

Evaluate your situation now. Is it time to talk with your spouse and make some changes before they erupt into irreconcilable differences? Have you lost your sense of identity over time? Have conflicts already eruped? Many couples have found that they can more easily and calmly open this conversation when an impartial family counselor is involved. If you live near Portland, Oregon, please contact my office and set up an appointment. I would be delighted to help you reconnect with your lifelong partner and make the next stage of your life more fulfilling.

If you’re in business together make sure to download my free Checklist for Entrepreneurial Couples. Click on the image below…