Best Marriage Advice: 5 Principles That Keep Couples Together

In today’s world, relationships can be challenging. Yet, the key to a successful marriage rests on five timeless principles. These principles are not only the best marriage advice… They are the building blocks of a strong, lasting union.

At Marriage Reset, we take a comprehensive approach to rebuilding your marriage. Through group calls, one-on-one coaching, and member support, we guide you every step of the way. Our personalized roadmaps, private coaching sessions, and supportive community help you rebuild trust… And create a stronger, more connected relationship.

Let’s dive into each one to uncover the secrets to a fulfilling and harmonious marriage.

What Is the Best Marriage Advice?

So what is the best marriage advice? There’s no single right answer to keeping the most important person in your life. Instead, your decisions must rest on a solid foundation of core principles.

There is so much contradictory marriage advice out there that it’s easy to feel lost. 

Should you fight for your marriage at all costs, or should you leave when your standards aren’t met? Should love be unconditional, or do healthy boundaries demand conditions?

Consider these common contradictions:

• • Love should be unconditional, no matter what—but you should leave if your standards aren’t being met.
  • A healthy marriage is about compromise—but never compromise your values or self-respect.
  • Fight for your marriage and work on it no matter what—but the best marriages are effortless.
  • Men and women should be equal partners—but the man should take 100% responsibility to lead.

No wonder the divorce rate has remained high for decades. 

Many couples struggle with following advice that doesn’t reflect what works in marriage.

After a decade as a licensed marriage and family therapist and working with thousands of couples… I’ve seen firsthand what keeps marriages thriving.

More importantly, I’ve interviewed the world’s top experts in marriage, relationships, and psychology… to uncover the best marriage advice that actually works.

The Truth About What Makes a Marriage Thrive

You might think that a successful marriage depends on:

• • Better communication skills
  • More dates and acts of love
  • Deeper intimacy
  • Stronger conflict resolution

While these things help, they are not the core pillars of a thriving marriage. My team and I have saved hundreds of marriages from the brink of divorce. From this work, I created the P.R.O.V.E. framework—five key principles for lasting, thriving relationships

These principles are practical. And you can start applying them immediately to see real results.

By implementing this framework, you will:

• • Lead your wife to fall back into a more loving and feminine state.
  • Soften her heart immediately during conflict.
  • Cause her to pursue you for intimacy and connection.
  • Increase her admiration and respect for you beyond measure.
  • Become emotionally bulletproof to any criticism she may have.

What is the P.R.O.V.E. Marriage Framework?

The P.R.O.V.E. framework lays out the basic ingredients of a good marriage. By sticking to these principles, you’ll be able to sort through the ocean of bad marriage advice and decide whether a piece of advice will work for you. But more than that, they’re also your compass that will help you navigate through tough times and come out stronger than ever.

P – Polarity (The Foundation of Attraction)

Attraction thrives on polarity—the natural interplay of masculine and feminine energy. In every strong relationship, one partner leads while the other follows. 

This doesn’t mean inequality; it means embracing complementary roles.

If a man leans too far into passivity and complacency, his wife loses attraction and respect.

Signs that you’ve lost polarity in your marriage:

• • She always criticizes you for little things.
  • She shows disrespect through eye rolls and sarcasm.
  • She is stubborn and makes all the decisions in the relationship.
  • There is less physical affection and intimacy between you.

Yet, when a man embodies strong masculine leadership… he restores the natural balance that fuels desire and connection.

Key Actions to Increase Polarity:

• • Start making daily decisions (even if you don’t care).

Choose where to eat, what to do that weekend, or what color to paint the room. Making decisions allows her to relax into her feminine state.

• • Set a vision for the relationship and guide it forward.

Marriages fall apart due to complacency. Women desire a man with a mission. When you show direction and growth, she leans into the relationship.

• • Maintain strong masculine energy—calm, assertive, and decisive.

The ability to be unreactive is the best way to make your wife feel safe and respected.

I explore the topic further in this video on shifting polarity in your marriage.

R – Radical Responsibility (Own Your Role in the Marriage)

No matter what happens in your marriage, own your part.

I can tell within five minutes if a man will struggle in his marriage—he blames his wife for everything.

• “It’s her trauma, her depression, her menopause, her issues…”
• Never taking one shred of responsibility for the state of the marriage.

Strong men take extreme ownership over their actions, emotions, and results. 

It’s a hard pill to swallow. But this mindset creates emotional safety and fuels long-term growth in the relationship. 

One of the most important things you can do in a marriage is to practice forgiveness and understanding, because your wife is human, and so are you.

Key Actions for Radical Responsibility:

• • Look at every reason you think your wife is at fault and ask yourself, “What is my role in that?”
  • Reflect: If someone in your life never took responsibility, how would you feel toward them?
  • Ask yourself: If your wife took full ownership, but you didn’t… would your marriage actually improve?

One of my clients, Ryan, lived this firsthand. His use of ‘perceptual ownership’ rebuilt trust with his wife. Even more, it solidified their lifelong commitment.

Watch his story in this video. He reveals how taking full ownership changed everything.

O – Obsessive Growth (Always Level Up)

A marriage that stops growing starts dying.

A lot of men think their relationship is like a car—only needing attention when something breaks. If it’s running fine, there’s no need to “fix” it.

But marriage isn’t a car. It’s a plant.

Like a tree that bears fruit, it needs consistent nourishment to thrive.

• Water it with affection.
• Trim the dying branches with guided communication.
• Give it daily sunlight—the attention and presence that foster intimacy.

Neglect it, and it withers.

A stagnant man is an unattractive man—to himself and to his wife.

Men who challenge themselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially… create relationships that stay exciting and fulfilling.

And here’s the shift: keeping love alive isn’t even hard. It only takes the right habits—done with consistency.

Key Actions for Obsessive Growth:

• • Develop a growth plan—set personal goals in health, wealth, and mindset.

Example: Create a 90-day plan for your fitness, finances, and personal development. This will help you stay physically strong and mentally sharp.

Whether it’s hitting a strength goal, increasing income by 10%, or committing to daily reading. Having clear targets keeps you focused and progressing. 

• • Keep leveling up—invest in new skills, experiences, and knowledge.

Example: Take a public speaking course, start a side hustle, or learn a martial art. 

Growth isn’t only what you do—it’s about who you become. Your wife will see the difference in how you carry yourself.

• • Continue to Work on Your Marriage—unlock new ways to communicate and connect.

Example: Find new things to do together, work through your issues in a meaningful way, or simply just talk to your wife more.

Vulnerability is core to any marriage. But beyond that, even if you don’t have any issues to work through, there’s no reason not to enjoy one another’s company. 

Even if it’s been a long time since your wedding day, you might still find new and unexpected ways to fall deeper in love with the woman you married.

If you feel daunted, remember that growth doesn’t come all at once. Start with the small stuff, and work your way up.

One of my clients, Matthew, committed to obsessive growth and never looked back. He created a ‘Future Trust Framework.’ and we break it down together in this video.

V – Values & Boundaries (Self-Respect Creates Relationship Respect)

How does a man go from earning his wife’s respect to tiptoeing around her, afraid to rock the boat?

A strong marriage thrives on mutual respect. And that respect starts with how you treat yourself.

Many men don’t realize when they stop enforcing their own standards. Over time, they let their wives walk all over them—without even noticing.

This creates mutual contempt: your wife’s respect for you plummets, and you begin to see her as ungrateful.

Here’s an example to illustrate what I mean:

Think about an exclusive nightclub.

There’s a cover charge at the door. Some people might hate it, but it’s the club’s rule. If you don’t want to pay, you can leave. No one forces the club to let in anyone for free.

Now, imagine if the bouncer let everyone in—no cover, no rules. The club would lose its value, and soon, no one would respect it.

Your marriage works the same way.

If you allow your wife to treat you any way she wants to “keep the peace,” she loses all respect for you.

When you stand for nothing, no one stands with you.

Key Actions for Values & Boundaries:

Define your core values and non-negotiables.

• • What behaviors are unacceptable in your relationship?
  • Where in your life have you compromised yourself?
  • Who have you set boundaries with before, and how did they respond?

Set clear boundaries—not from anger, but from strength.

• • Example: If she stonewalls, insults, or disrespects you… Be calm but firm and remove yourself from the situation. Boundaries aren’t about controlling her—they’re about protecting your self-respect.

Express expectations in a firm and calm manner—never from fear or neediness.

• • Example: Instead of saying, “Please don’t talk to me like that, it hurts my feelings.” Say, “I don’t engage in conversations where I’m disrespected. Let me know when you’re ready to be constructive and talk.”

For a deeper look into this topic, check out my video: How to Set Boundaries With Your Wife Without Losing Respect.

E – Ego Detachment (Mastering Non-Personalism)

One of the biggest mistakes men make is taking everything so personal.

When your wife is emotional, distant, or critical, weak men react. They get defensive, lash out, or shut down.

Strong men stay centered.

A high-value man remains unshaken. He doesn’t let temporary feelings dictate his self-worth.

Key Actions for Ego Detachment:

Don’t react on impulse—respond with calm, grounded energy.

• • Try this: The “One-Breath Rule.” Before responding to something triggering, take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale. That small pause is enough to shift from reacting with emotion… to responding with intention.

See her emotions as feedback—not a personal attack.

• • Reframe it: Instead of thinking, “She’s attacking me.” Think, “She’s expressing something deeper. What is she saying?” This keeps you from getting defensive and helps you understand the real issue.

Stay unshaken—never let temporary moods dictate your confidence.

• • Mental Trick: Imagine you’re a shoreline, and her emotions are the waves. The waves might be rough, calm, or unpredictable. But the shoreline remains solid, unmoved. Your value doesn’t change based on the ocean’s mood.

Detaching from ego isn’t about ignoring her emotions—it’s about not letting them control you. 

Doing this can help you avoid getting into emotionally-driven disagreements in the first place.

The most attractive men are the ones who remain steady, unshaken, and confident no matter what. 

The moment you stop reacting and start leading with calm certainty, she’ll feel safe. And that’s when everything shifts.

The Best Marriage Advice Boiled Down to Five Principles

If you want a marriage that lasts, P.R.O.V.E. it—with these five principles:

• Polarity – Maintain masculine leadership and natural attraction.
• Radical Responsibility – Own your role in the marriage.
• Obsessive Growth – Always push yourself to improve.
• Values & Boundaries – Establish unshakable self-respect.
• Ego Detachment – Don’t make it about you; stay grounded.

Marriage isn’t about fixing your wife—it’s about becoming a man she’s drawn to and respects.

The best marriage advice isn’t about what you say—it’s about who you are.

Key Takeaway

What resonates with you the most from these principles? 

While the best marriage advice may be different for everyone, the key is to recognize that it’s not about fixing your partner. Instead, things should revolve around your own growth and leadership within the relationship.

At Mariage Reset, you’re not alone, and there is a proven solution. Through actionable frameworks like the Emotional Reset Method, you’ll learn step-by-step tools to turn negative emotions into curiosity, trust, and attraction, rebuilding emotional safety and connection in your marriage. 

We’re results-oriented, focusing on measurable progress and success stories to ensure your investment leads to tangible outcomes.

Beyond saving your marriage, our holistic approach helps you become the best version of yourself—confident, attractive, and purpose-driven. So you can thrive as a partner and leader. 

If you’re ready to transform your marriage and your life, Marriage Reset is here to guide you every step of the way. 

Take the first step today and book a free call with our team to discover how we can help you reset and rebuild your relationship. 

Get the best marriage advice tailored to you—book a free call with our marriage evaluating team. You’ll gain instant clarity on the next steps to turning your marriage around.

–Josh Hudson, LMFT