Marriage Mistake #7 - If only my spouse would just change...

Trying to change my spouse

• Expecting your spouse to change things they can't or shouldn't change
• Not accepting and appreciating legitimate differences
• Not working on changing those things about yourself that need to change

Frustration, conflict, and stagnation

• The more you try to change your spouse, the more likely they are NOT to change
• Neither of you changes
• Resentment build
• Both become stubborn, and the relationship gets stuck

Strive to understand, accept, and appreciate your spouse's strengths while working to know, understand, and change your own short-comings

• Work on yourself FIRST
  • Stop trying to change your spouse
  • What about YOU needs to change?
• Focus on understanding, accepting, appreciating, and building up your spouse
  • As a man or a woman
  • Their personality
  • Their maturity
  • Their emotional make-up
  • Their communication style
  • Their giftedness

Most importantly, speak truth in love