Marriages don’t work out for many reasons. There are even plenty of good marriages that end in divorce. Why? Lots of small behaviors that are often not noticed can start to chip away at the love you feel for one another. These five things in particular can destroy a relationship right under your nose. They are behaviors to avoid at all costs in a relationship if you want to stay together.

Bad Or No Communication Is A Love Killer

Communication is a necessary part of any healthy relationship. This means not only talking to one another about what’s going on in your life and what’s on your mind, but about the difficult things too. Being able to have a respectful conversation where you both listen to each other is a way to not only solve problems, but to bond as well.

Forgive Or You Can Forget It With Your Spouse

Forgiveness is a lot different than just sweeping hurt feelings under the rug, and this is particularly true for marriages. You have to actually let go of the hurt your spouse may have caused you, or it will eat away at you and eventually destroy your marriage. That doesn’t make what they did alright, and hopefully, it doesn’t happen again. However, forgiveness does let you heal, which is vital.

Don’t Be So Negative

No relationship can stand consistent negativity, and even if it could, it would be very unpleasant. Focusing on the negative in your partner and constantly judging them for all the things they do wrong not only generates a bad vibe, but it can cause a lot of resentment. Look at the positive in your spouse, and lift them up rather than tear them down.

Thou Shalt Not Be Condescending

You are your spouse are a team. Teams work together rather than being condescending or one-upping one another. The health of a marriage depends on this teamwork. A condescending attitude toward your spouse is a sign of your own insecurities, and has little or nothing to do with your partner. Once a person stops feeling down on themselves, they will also stop feeling the need to jab at and put others down.

Don’t Take Your Stress Out On Your Spouse

Stress is inevitable now and again, whether it is work-related, financial, sickness, grief, or anything else. What’s important is not to take your stress out on your partner. Instead lean on them for support. Sharing the burden will often make it easier, whereas taking your stress out on them will drive a wedge between you.