Any couple making the commitment of marriage believes that this is a life-long allegiance; none of us head off to the church or registry office thinking our marriage may one day end in divorce.
The flush of new love brings out all our best qualities and selflessness but, as we continue on the journey of marriage, so our flaws, and those of our partner, become more obvious and harder to gloss over.
No relationship runs smoothly all the time and everyone needs to see progress and development within their marriage in order to feel fulfilled and valued.
The chances are that, if your family annoy you, you do not simply desert them; just as we stick it out during the tough times in our jobs, so we need to find the same resilience in our marriage.
Just as in a business agreement or investment, we need to accept that hiccups and challenges in the short-term are inevitable but that does not mean the entire project is doomed.
Like any relationship, marriage needs work and a lazy attitude towards communication or indifference to the needs of our partner can result in a complete breakdown of the relationship.
Try to remember that no-one is perfect and that staying married requires a continual process of give and take.
Often the pressures of work, family commitments and children require so much of our attention that we end up neglecting our marriage.
Of course, enjoying your own company and spending time away from your partner are as much a part of creating a strong marriage as effective communication, but ensure you do allocate some time each day just to talk to one another.
The real aim when there are so many other things competing for your attention is to maintain a private connection between you and your partner and not give up the closeness you enjoyed before marriage simply because your children take up so much of your time.
While everyone has annoying habits that can put pressure on a relationship, how we respond to those irritations can make all the difference.
Rather than focusing on the dirty socks left on the floor or those horrible tracksuit bottoms he wears around the house, try to concentrate on the things your partner does to make you smile.
Be grateful that he brought you ice cream after your terrible day at work or that he played with the children on Saturday morning in order to give you a break.
By being grateful and giving compliments, you create a marriage that is based around positive energy and reduce the negative influences that can start to gnaw away at the foundations of your marriage.
Remember, you fell in love with your partner for a good reason so keep looking for those good points and celebrating the fact that you have someone to love and support you through life.