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4 Reasons Your Marriage Is Susceptible To Divorce

By . Posted on .

serious family sitting on sofa
How fragile is your marriage?
Keep your union strong despite all the forces that try to weaken it.

The fire of love is a fragile and fickle flame. I often hear stories of people leaving good relationships because they have developed deep connections outside the marriage. So, how can you keep your marriage intact? There are four, cultural elements causing marriage and love to be extra fragile. They are:

1. We marry for love. We have been doing this for less than 100 years. Up until recent history, we married because of family loyalties, property, status, religious mandates and social tradition.

More from YourTango: 4 Secrets From Couples Who Maintain Intimacy and Ecstasy

Love is a fragile thing ... it needs lots of TLC! If love is ignored, the bond in the relationship will weaken. Inside this weakness dissention, criticism and distance grows. Love is like a small flame; it needs lots of consistent time and attention to stay strong!

2. Spouses aren't dependent on one another. Women and men are now both able to care for themselves and their children financially and socially, leaving both sexes less likely to stay in unhappy relationships. This fact, plus the fact that many people have successfully moved on from one marriage into another life reduces the stigma of divorce.

The financial and social pressure to stay married isn't what it used to be. People stay married because they choose each other daily, they want to choose each other daily, and they nourish their connection daily as well.

More from YourTango: One Small Story of a Mother's Unreasonable Love

3. We live longer than we ever have. The average age of marriage in urban areas is 26 for women and 28 for men. With a lifespan of 85-plus years, it is feasible to be married for 60-plus years. There is a great amount of change people go through over a 60-year relationship. Keep reading ...

More marriage advice from YourTango:

Article contributed by
Advanced Member

Dr. Tina Schermer-Sellers

Marriage and Family Therapist

Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD

Author, Speaker, Couple's Intimacy Retreat Facilitator, Licenced Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Medical Family Therapist, Clinical Sexologist

Location: SEATTLE, WA
Credentials: LMFT, PhD
Other Articles/News by Dr. Tina Schermer-Sellers:

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Do you ever wish you had a 'marriage cheat sheet'?  ... a few 'easy to remember' tips that would help keep your love strong?  In a world that squeezes out fun and crams in more demands ... what are the secrets of those that stay 'in love' and those that 'fall out of love'?  In a recent love and marriage ... Read more

One Small Story of a Mother's Unreasonable Love

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On the last night of our epic three week family vacation we all lay on our backs on a dock on Cascade Lake, Orcas Island to watch a rare meteor shower.  I wish I had a picture of us – side by side in the dark - gazing across an expanse of sky trying to capture every stray streak to launch itself in our direction.  Then a chorus of a gasps would ... Read more

What Is Normal Sexual Curiosity In Kids?

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My son was 3 and bath time meant time with 40 floating toys, lots of bubbles and his snorkeling mask.  It also meant I could make dinner 15 feet away in relative peace.  It was an evening ritual that worked for both of us.  One night he yelled from the tub, “Mommy! Mommy! Come quick, I need to show you something!”  As I ran ... Read more

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