The art of appreciating your spouse is nothing to scoff at. Remember when you were a new couple and the complements flowed freely? You never failed to praise the simplest of meals or to thank a partner who took out the trash. Now that your couple-hood has become familiar, you might forget to give thanks for that wonderful person who shares your life. Showing your gratitude is a great way to strengthen the bonds in a relationship and so worth it to get back in the habit of showing gratitude.
Start simple: say thanks and offer your partner some praise. Robert Emmons, Ph.D., the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude says: “I see it as a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.” In a relationship, we measure our worth in part by the way our partner values us. Expressing gratitude to the person who means the most to you—be it simple or elaborate—shows how much you value your SO. If you are not sure how to get started, try one of these suggestions and train yourself to consciously appreciate your spouse for the sake of real and lasting longevity.
1. Say Thank You
This is appreciating your spouse 101. A simple please and thank you goes a long way on any occasion. It demonstrates to your SO that you value them, you respect them and that they are worthy of a little politeness.
Read Related: The Joy of Thank You: 12 Reasons Why Gratitude Will Make You Happier
