Dismal Second Marriage Success Rate
It’s been proven that the second marriage divorce rate is statistically higher than that of first marriages because of a few simple, yet critical mistakes that many people make when they enter their second marriage.
Psychology Today stated that “the rate for second marriages is 67%, and for third marriages, a whopping 73%.”
If anything can be learned from the second marriage divorce rate, it is the fact that you need to enter a second marriage with CAUTION. Here are some tips that will help you beat the odds of the second marriage divorce rate and make your second marriage a success:
Do You REALLY Know Your Partner?
Be sure that YOUR beliefs are in line with your spouse’s. And I’m not only talking about religion here. I’m also talking about your partner’s beliefs about making and saving money, disciplining children, daily love & affection, sex, household chores and even social beliefs.
It is opposite beliefs on subjects like these that will quickly put your relationship on the fast track to divorce.
In your hunger to find new love, you may be tempted to idealize life with your fiancée and ignore the discussion of opposite beliefs.
But let me warn you, if you do this, there’s a good chance you’ll end up becoming another statistic in the rising second marriage divorce rate.
Don’t make the same mistakes you did in your first marriage. Discuss these issues NOW. Don’t wait just because you don’t want to “spoil the mood.”
Create a Hot Button Checklist
Another way to beat the odds of the second marriage divorce rate is to write down every little thing you and your ex fought about throughout your marriage. Did you struggle with jealousy issues even though your spouse gave you no reason to be suspicious?
Did you and your ex struggle with money problems in your marriage? Make a list of all the issues that contributed to your last divorce and see whether or not those issues could spring up again in your second marriage.
Type out the list and use it as a way to discuss your beliefs about each of the issues and how you think that subject should be handled in your second marriage. Be sure to include issues that are not typical like landscape maintenance, vacations and work ethic.
Those may seem like insignificant issues right now, but it is better to get everything out into the open BEFORE you are married…than to be sorry you didn’t later on when your second marriage becomes another statistic in the rising second marriage divorce rate.
Are You Blinded By Love?
Research shows that the second marriage divorce rate greatly increases if you’ve been in a relationship with a person for less than a year. Don’t think this research does not apply to you. As difficult as it may be to accept, these ARE the facts.
It has also been proven that both men and women want to be married and connected regardless of the misery they suffered in their last marriage. Loneliness can drive anyone to seek relief in their second marriage and few people are thinking straight when they remarry too quickly.
The burning desire to “not be lonely” creates such a hunger that rational thought becomes an irritating nuisance.
Though you may not want to hear it now, romance is a very powerful “drug”. It will keep you in a trance like state right up until the moment you say I do…for the second time.
And once you’re married, you’ll notice the romance you once felt gradually fade with the predictability of married life.
So just remember, if you want to beat the second marriage divorce rate, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the romance in your relationship will continue to last forever.
Romance is just not practical in marriage due to busy schedules, children and the monotony of daily life. At the very least, remember to keep a clear head during the pre-marriage time spent with your partner.
What Caused Your Last Divorce?
To beat the odds of the second marriage divorce rate, you MUST start to be honest with yourself. Understand that it was NOT just one issue or one person that “caused” your last divorce.
It’s true. There is not ONE person that causes a divorce.
Instead, it is the clash of two OPPOSITE value systems that drives people to divorce. Two opposite “value” or belief systems can cause a variety of problems in a marriage like:
- Infidelity
- Over-sensitivity
- Lack of intimacy
- Excessive fighting
- Confusing and unclear communication
- Not enough quality time due to busy schedules
- Unsolvable children issues
- Inability to find the real source of conflict
It’s important to find out which issues caused conflict in your last marriage so you can openly discuss them with your partner.
AND JUST A FAIR WARNING: Do NOT get carried away with the painful details of your last marriage. The conversation with your partner should NOT be about bashing your ex husband or wife, but instead about eliminating potential conflicts in your second marriage.
There is no need to discuss ALL the details of your last marriage…just your viewpoint on your values in life. (i.e. money management, religion, family values, etc.)
Understand Expectations
It is important to go into a second marriage with a clear understanding of what your needs are. Men and women’s expectations surprisingly are different, so be sure to talk openly and honestly about these needs BEFORE you get married the second time around.
(If you’re already married, discuss them as soon as possible.)
For instance, if you need one night out of the week to be with your friends just to break up the “routine” of things, let your partner know this BEFORE you are married. It is this kind of open communication that leads to successful second marriages.
If you REALLY want to beat the odds of the second marriage divorce rate and make this time around a success, you MUST understand the CRITICAL role that your and your spouse’s belief systems take on in a marriage.
Once you do, when conflicts emerge in your second marriage, you’ll be able to resolve them quickly and effectively, with no hard feelings on either side.
If you’d like to gain some insight on what has happened to bring your marriage to the point it is at right now, register for a private, one-on-one 60 minute phone consultation. I’ll help you understand what you can do right now to restore your original love and win your spouse’s heart back.
Register for this private call here.
Whether you’re married or not, this no-strings-attached 60 minute consultation will help you discover not only what will make your second marriage a success, but also what made your first marriage fail.
I hope to speak with you soon!
