20 Rules For A Happier Relationship

The following was given to GalTime with permission by Dr. Bill Cloke, expert in couples and marriage therapy.

From my experience as a psychotherapist for 30 years and a married man for over 20 years, I think of these rules as everything a couple must learn for an ongoing, happy relationship. If you are unhappy in your current relationship, print these out, post them to the fridge and start to act on them. Though some of them may seem quite simplistic and/or impossible, I promise that if you follow them to the best of your ability, your misery level will go down precipitously and you will remember what it is like to be in love with your mate. Hard Work Ahead: Are Relationships Really Worthwhile?

More from YourTango: 5 Signs He's Definitely Into You (From Actual Guys)

1. Practice these daily: compassion, understanding, respect and empathy. If you are not using one of these you are off track. And here are some other tips/rules of healthy relationships that I have learned throughout the years:

2. Fight fair. No yelling, name-calling, sarcasm, bringing up past grievances (stick to the topic at hand) or hitting below the belt. Never throw things at or near the other person. With anger, don't repress it, but don't let it out immediately, either. Find out what is causing the anger, cool down and then talk about what you are feeling. Can Seasonal Affective Disorder Affect Your Love Life?

3. Know the difference between criticism and a complaint. A criticism is a negative assessment of your behavior that is telling you that you have done something wrong, which causes the person to become defensive. A complaint is telling the other person what you want and need moving forward. Complaints are positive and about the future; criticism is negative and about the past. We can't change the past but we can succeed in the future. There is no such thing as constructive criticism between couples. 6 Ways To Stay In Love While Planning Your Wedding

4. Avoid contempt, blaming or shaming.

5. Be on the lookout for defensiveness.

6. Turn off the negativity. Accentuate the positive.

7. Don't shut down. Refuse to engage in stonewalling or turning away from your partner for longer than twenty minutes. Then come back to the table.

More from YourTango: 15 Signs Your Marriage Will End In Divorce

8. Don't play the victim role or the perpetrator.

For More YourTango Relationships Advice:

• How To Make Long-Distance Love Work
• How To Get A Man To Talk About The Future
• Should I Leave My Alcoholic Husband?