Do you want a better marriage? I know I do! Today I encourage you to think about some ways in which you might be falling into bad habits or negative spirals in your relationship with your spouse, along with four ideas for improvement. Making bad assumptions. Do you assume the worst about your spouse’s intentions, especially inside of conflict? Many of us do this out of insecurity or defensiveness, but it’s not fair and hurts your relationship. Having unspoken expectations. Do you have problems, expectations, wants and desires that you fail to communicate to your spouse? And then do you wind up feeling disappointed when he fails to meet your unspoken expectations? We need to be clear in our communication, especially about expectations in marriage. Apathy Have you gotten lazy in your relationship? What small efforts and kindnesses have you let slide in recent years? Think about it and demand better from yourself. Your marriage is worth the investment! Negative Communication Habits Step outside your relationship for a moment and observe patterns of behavior, especially between you and your spouse during moments of conflict. What habits have you fallen into? What dumb arguments do you have over and over again? Find out the role you play in these habits and make a change. "It’s not your spouse’s job to make you happy. It’s their job to get you to heaven."