Building a happy, lasting marriage is a lifelong pursuit. If properly nurtured, your love for one another will grow over time. Pursuing better love is a wonderful way to stay connected, keep learning about each other, and make one another feel special through every season of your life.
There are many ways to love your spouse more deeply. You’re closer to your spouse than anyone else, but it’s essential to continue getting to know them throughout your life so you can meet their needs in any season. We’ve gathered a few ideas to help you be more intentional about showing them how much you value them. Let’s jump right in.
Show Appreciation
Showing appreciation and gratitude for your spouse helped them to feel loved and seen. Take time each day to notice the ways they care for you, your home, and your family. Tell them how much you appreciate their work ethic, business acumen, or creativity. Thank them for what they do and who they are, and be intentional about weaving gratitude into your everyday life.
Affirm Your Spouse
Encouraging your spouse through affirmation is a powerful way to let them know you notice and support their talents and pursuits. Some people love to be liked and affirmed for their authentic selves. Others need affirmation for accomplishments and concrete things they’ve done.
Offer Autonomy
Offering your spouse autonomy, space, and time to do the things they enjoy is another way to love them better. Autonomy and personal space may feel counterintuitive in marriage, but some people truly do need that level of independence. By giving them space, you’re showing admiration for who they are and what they need.
Meet Their Needs
What does your spouse need to feel truly loved? Do they need shared experiences, deep conversation, or better partnership? Do they need to hear loving words, or do they prefer for you to act in ways that make them feel cared for? Whatever the answer, take time to meet your spouse’s needs freely, without expecting anything specific in return.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Most couples have a few areas where one spouse enjoys things that the other doesn’t. Maybe your spouse loves celebrating birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries, but you prefer to keep things lowkey. Why not go out of your way to make sure they enjoy their special day? It might be just another day to you, but to your spouse, it could mean everything. Do it for them because you love them.
Take a Relationship Assessment
Taking a relationship assessment like Better Love + The 5 Love Languages® can help you and your spouse deepen your relationship and get to know each other better than ever before. It will give you greater insight into one another, opening the door to heightened intimacy. And if you want a guide to navigating the nuances of your Love Languages, we have just the thing: The Love Language That Matters Most, a new book we co-wrote with Dr. Gary Chapman. Find it and order yours here.
How do you and your spouse intentionally grow your love for one another? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
