Page 87 - STMT 2nd Edition

While the other six stages tend to occur in order, the Explosion stage can

happen at any time in a marriage-though it happens most as we pass

through our 40s and 50s.

Confronted by a personal crisis, your marriage can be a source of support

or be sorely tried by the unexpected pressure of new roles, new limitations

and new fears.

The mission of the explosion stage: Deal the best you can with life’s

challenges and changes, but at the same time, keep yourself happy and

healthy.

Letting your marriage see you through can be as simple as sharing daily

joys, provided you sometimes practice the Zen-like art of putting aside

fear and stress.

Stage Seven of Marriage:

Completion

It’s no coincidence: Lots of surveys find that marital happiness soars after

several decades of a shared life.

Experts say simply that it’s because the kids are grown, and couples know

each other very, very well.

But there’s more to it than that. Knowing each other isn’t merely about

tolerating each other’s habits, quirks and needs. In the completion stage,

“knowing” each other has a far deeper meaning-and a bigger payoff as

well.

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