This self improvement article is written by Brenda Williams

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Have you ever heard the phrase, “If it was easy then everyone would do it.”? Well, it's true. And relationships definitely factor into this. The funny thing is that most of us try our hand at relationships and wind up failing. With the divorce rate at almost 50% today, it is interesting to see how relationships have changed and evolved.

In a lot of ways, it is sad to see so many people's marriages breaking up, and it makes one wonder, “What is going on?” Some would blame the lack of successful marriages today on the media's portrayal of Hollywood marriages which begin one minute and end the next. Are we making a mockery of marriage? Decades ago, people would get married and take the vows seriously. Today, with shows such as Bridezillas, people get a thwarted view of how marriage is and fail to see what it is not. Shows like this portray women being obsessed over picking out a wedding dress and planning out their party.

Weddings are more than just a party. Marriage is more than just a day where a woman can get dressed up and celebrate good times. Relationships, specifically marriage, is about commitment. We are all created different, therefore we are bound to disagree on various issues. However, rather than getting up and calling it quits after
a short period of time, we need to realize that for any relationship to be good, there has to be some sort of give and take. There needs to be a modicum of respect. We need to realize how important the other person is to us. So many people forget the motto of treating others how they wish to be treated. At the end of the day, we need to know that our partner is there for us. That being said, there are some things that we can do to help improve our current relationships with each other. For starters, listen more. This goes back to something that we were taught when we were children.

When someone else is speaking, focus on what they are saying and try not to interrupt them. Instead, wait until they have finished their thought and only after you have given thought to what they have said, respond intelligently. There is nothing worse than talking to someone whose mind is elsewhere thinking of other things. The next thing to keep in mind is talking. Talking and listening are the foundation of communication- which is something that relationships subsist off of. If something is bothering you, talk to your spouse about it in a logical, rational way. Think through your problem, and if you can't solve it yourself, enlist the help of your spouse. That's what they are there for. Pay attention to your spouse. If he or she walks in the room, acknowledge that they're there. Something as simple as saying 'hello', telling them that you love them or even stopping what you are doing for a brief moment to give them a hug can go a long way.