Embracing Differences in Marriage

When we enter into marriage, we often carry with us a set of expectations shaped by our backgrounds, movies, past relationships, and life experiences. But one thing we don't always fully grasp is the fact that your spouse is, well, different from you.

What does that mean? It means that even if you share the same vision, values, and perspectives in some areas, you are still distinct individuals.

You'll approach issues differently, react to situations in your unique way, handle matters with your personal touch, and sometimes, even want different things. My husband has this saying that resonates with me: "If two people in a relationship are exactly the same, one of them isn't needed."

I've noticed that many of us spend an inordinate amount of time trying to mold our partners into our own image, making them see things the way we do, live life just like us, or be a mirror image of ourselves. Well, here's a bit of reality check: It's not going to happen ????.

Instead of investing your energy in trying to make your partner a replica of yourself, why not try a different approach - understanding them.

Take the time to comprehend what makes them tick, how they think, what matters to them, and what doesn't. You'll soon realize that your differences, even when they can be downright frustrating at times, can complement each other beautifully.

Take my husband, Oguche, for instance - he's a last-minute kind of guy ????. It used to drive me up the wall! He'd prepare for presentations and other things at the eleventh hour. But, guess what? It often works for him. The last minute seems to be when his creative juices kick in. I, on the other hand, am the complete opposite; I like to plan ahead.

One thing I've learned from this is patience. I've come to accept that Oguche knows what he's doing, and he'll get to the task at hand. It's still frustrating at times, I won't lie, but I'm happier for it ??.

He's also made some adjustments to his timing based on the importance of the matter at hand, but here's the kicker, it's still not entirely according to my timelines ??????. So, you see, your spouse is not YOU.

If you were to ask him, he could tell you about my quirks that get under his skin ????.

In marriage, we should spend less time trying to change our spouses for being different and invest that time in getting to know and understand them better. It's in these differences that the true beauty of a partnership lies. ????

#MarriageWisdom #UnderstandingYourSpouse #EmbraceDifferences