The institution of marriage is established in many societies. Although marriage guidelines vary from culture to culture, it consists of common fundamental features that help promote a healthy, happy relationship. Contrary to popular belief, marriage does require a fair amount of work and nurturing from both spouses. People fall in love, walk down the aisle, and expect to live happily ever after on autopilot. Though love, compatibility, and parallel goals play a huge role in the marriage, it’s also critical that you make a conscious effort to fulfill your end of the deal called "wedding vows". Here are words to live by to assist you keep your marriage on track and get you through the tough times with your husband or wife:

1. Love with all your heart. You should give it your all – your unconditional love – to your spouse, soul mate, lover, confidant, and best friend. Your marriage should be your top priority.

2. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s so easy to get caught up in the world of nitpicking. If you’re a worrywart or have a dramatic flair with a tendency to blow the most trivial matter out of proportion, you need to relax. It’s not worth the aggravation to start an argument with your spouse over something miniscule. If you don’t, he or she will ultimately begin to withdraw and develop feelings of resentment, which can potentially undermine your relationship. So, whenever you have the urge to assert yourself over something minor, take a deep breath and bite your tongue.

3. Patience is a virtue. No matter how wonderful your relationship is, you are bound to experience adversities together. The trick is to work through your problems and stay together for better or for worse. Who ever said it would be easy? Develop the patience to withstand the "marriage test" of time.

4. Practice random acts of kindness. It’s important to say the words "I love you" and other sweet expressions to your partner. However, it’s more powerful to exercise acts of kindness. After all, actions speak louder than words. Prepare your spouse a meal, pick up the kids from school, shower him or her with lots of praises and affection, or simply engage in a meaningful dialogue where you do most of the listening.

5. To err is human, to forgive is divine. Nobody is perfect. You will go through life together making mistakes along the way. In the process, you will end up hurting each other. The pain inflicted upon you can sometimes cause angst and bitterness. Let it go. You need to forgive, so you can move past the hurt in order to start anew with your spouse. Otherwise, those suppressed negative emotions will have adverse effects on your health and marriage.

6. Honesty is the best policy. Husbands and wives should not keep secrets from each other. This is a "no ifs, ands, or buts" rule. It’s that simple.

7. Practice makes perfect. Communication, compromise, and other key components of a marriage can be challenging to put into practice. However, if you recognize their value and incorporate them into your daily affirmations, you will soon harvest the fruits of your labor.

Marriage is a partnership and should be given the proper attention and nourishment it needs to survive and thrive. Marriage does take work and by embracing these "words to live by", you are on your way to a happier, healthier relationship.