Making your marriage last is a real possibility, but in order to accomplish this, there are some things that you really need to know about making your marriage work for the long haul. Of course there are no guarantees, but following these ten simple rules, can really do a lot to improve your marriage for life.

Respect - This is necessary, for some reason after people are married they don't think they need to be nice to each other. This is not the case, you need to treat your spouse as you would if you were dealing with a stranger. Speaking Kind Words - You should never speak mean words to your spouse, you can have disagreements but it doesn't have to become nasty. This is also true when you're speaking to other people about your spouse, it should always be in a positive light. When you voice something it sometimes becomes reality so you must be careful with your words.

Working on you: If you've let yourself go and don't give yourself the attention you need you may be shortchanging your relationship. You may need to give yourself more attention and improvement on emotional, spiritual and physical issues as this will be beneficial to your spouse also. Giving in: There are time when there will be arguments and there are times to hold to your position and other times to let it go. If you need to be the winner every time then there's a problem, this tells your spouse that they are always wrong.

Stay away from Temptation: If you find yourself in a compromising position get out fast! Stay away from people who you feel an attraction towards and don't do things with the opposite sex without your spouse being involved. If your spouse is there this give an indication to others about your commitment. Avoid Lies: Your marriage will not survive if there is no truth or trust involved. Sometimes the truth is hard but even little lies are destabilizing to the communication. Be true to your partner, don't lie, and it will be beneficial to your relationship.

Continue your Friendship: Assuming you were friends before, which hopefully you were, it's important to keep talking and letting the other one know what you feel, and what scares you. This communication has to happen to maintain a healthy marriage. Listening Skills: When your spouse talks make sure you are hearing what they say. If you listen and understand the communication will help you to maintain a good relationship.