Getting married is one of the biggest events of your life. The vast majority of people, however, receive no training for it. Instead, they hop into relationships and then just feel their way through, without any framework or guidance.
When you think about it, this is one heck of a societal oversight. The financial and emotional ramifications of a failed marriage are enormous, both for the individual involved, and the rest of society. People should be prepared for the long road ahead, yet there is very little training. It certainly isn’t mainstream.
Training is vital for several reasons. For one, it helps you learn the parameters of a relationship. If you’re young and in love, it can be challenging to think conceptually about your relationship. You have strong feelings for the other person, and they seem to be what matters the most.
But it is also helpful to have basic insights into each person’s roles and expectations. Successful marriages don’t just happen by chance. Typically, they are the result of adopting specific strategies suitable for the couple.
The world of marriage courses is, fortunately, opening up more and more, thanks to e-learning and online resources. People no longer see it as something for couples who are struggling in their relationship. Instead, it’s for everyone who wants to lead a happy life.
The digital learning ecosystem is now quite considerable. These Docebo reviews show how companies as diverse as Uber and Thomson Reuters are using them. There’s no reason why couples can’t take advantage of these resources too.
So what do you learn on the average marriage course? And how can it make your relationship stronger?
Money Matters
When people get married, their finances blend into one. In some ways, this is a beautiful thing, but it can also cause problems.
In any relationship, you rarely get complete agreement on financial decisions. One person, for instance, might want to go on a lavish holiday while the other would prefer to save money and stay home.
You need to discuss each others’ financial traits ahead of time and learn about them. Training teaches you that people have different preferences and how to deal with them.
Family Planning
Pixabay – CC0 LicenseThe next important topic is family planning. Conflict can arise here too. One partner might want to wait a few years until you’re financially secure to have children. Another might believe that you should strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.
Parenthood
Marriage is all about parenthood – creating a secure and stable environment to raise children. But, yet again, we barely receive any training on this subject. We leave most people to figure it out by themselves (or repeat the mistakes of their parents).
Active Listening
It is so important to engage in active listening with your partner. That means really listening to what they say, taking it on board, and then making proactive changes. Too often, couples wind up talking past each other, and that’s when problems can creep in.