Shattering the Myths of Marriage

Janice C. Burnham, MA, LPC

 

Myth: I can make my spouse happy and s/he can make me happy.

Correction: I am responsible for my own happiness.

 

Myth: Marriage will fix/solve everything in my life and relationship.

Correction: Marriage does not solve problems.

 

Myth: I can change my partner.

Correction: I can change no one but myself.

 

Myth: My partner should do and think the same way I do about everything.

Correction: No two people are identical; It is a positive thing to think and express my own thoughts and feelings.

 

Myth: My relationship is really not that bad; it is actually very good sometimes.

Correction: Problems in a relationship need to be corrected, not tolerated.

 

Myth: I married a highly religious man/woman of my own faith so I should have no problems.

Correction: Marrying a person with high values is a worthy goal; but every marriage has adjustment and personal issues/problems. It is the responsibility of each couple to work on their individual and couple issues/problems and eliminate them.

 

Myth: I have lived a righteous life and should have a successful and perfect marriage.

Correction: Righteousness is of great value but does not make a marriage, by itself.

 

Myth: I saw what I wanted to see; s/he was not what I though s/he was.

Correction: Ignoring "red flags" prior to marriage does not make them go away with marriage. Marriage only intensifies these problems.

 

Myth: Everything negative in the marriage and my life is the fault of someone else, particularly my spouse.

Correction: It is the responsibility of each individual to correct the negatives within themselves.

 

Myth: I can make my spouse be righteous.

Correction: I cannot force my spouse to do anything.

 

Myth: I have to put up with my spouse's negative behavior

Correction: Negative behavior needs to be corrected.

 

Myth: I as a woman do not need a college education or marketable skill; my husband will take care of me.

Correction: It is important to have an education or marketable skill, to be prepared.

 

Myth: Little things in marriage do not matter.

Correction: Little things can become big things if not corrected.

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