Is Love Necessary in Marriage?
Many people wonder whether love is essential for a successful marriage. To understand this, let me give you an example.
The Excitement of Something New
Imagine when you buy a brand-new car. You take extra care of it, polish it regularly, and make sure it stays in perfect condition. Similarly, when you get a new pair of shoes, you handle them with care, avoiding dirt or damage. This feeling of excitement and attachment to something new is natural.
However, over time, that same car starts to get scratches, and those same shoes that you once protected from the ground eventually step into mud. The initial excitement fades, and the object becomes a part of your routine rather than a source of thrill.
Love is Temporary, Commitment is Permanent
Just like the newness of a car or shoes fades away, the intense passion and excitement in a relationship also change over time. The feeling of love, which seems overwhelming in the beginning, does not remain the same forever. What truly keeps a marriage going is commitment—the decision to stand by your partner through every difficulty, challenge, and phase of life.
Discipline: The Foundation of a Lasting Marriage
Commitment alone is not enough; it needs to be backed by discipline. If you have the discipline to treat your partner with respect, kindness, and understanding, your marriage will remain strong. When things become difficult—because they inevitably will—discipline ensures that you don’t walk away but rather work through the challenges together.
The Key to a Successful Marriage
Love is a wonderful feeling, but it is fleeting. What truly sustains a marriage is the commitment to stay together, no matter what, and the discipline to nurture the relationship every day. A successful marriage is not about constantly feeling in love but about choosing to stand by each other, even when things get messy.
Best Relationship Advice: Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
When it comes to relationships, the common advice in life is: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” We are often told to diversify our investments, whether it’s in business, career choices, or friendships, to minimize risk. However, relationships work differently. You cannot have multiple backup plans or divide your emotional investment between different people.
Relationships Require Total Investment
In life, people tend to think about balancing their efforts—giving only a portion of their time and energy to different areas so that they always have a backup in case something fails. But when it comes to relationships, this mindset does not work. You cannot say, “I will invest half my emotions here and keep the other half as a backup.” Relationships require complete commitment, full effort, and undivided attention.
No Room for Divided Attention
This isn’t about family because your family naturally deserves love and attention. This is about your romantic partner. If you are married, yet at the same time, you are entertaining conversations with someone else—whether in real life or on social media—you are breaking the essence of commitment.
You cannot have a backup relationship waiting on the side. Some people think they can balance a relationship with their spouse while also keeping other options open, but that is a recipe for disaster. True love and loyalty demand that you give your all to one person.
The Three Essential Investments in a Relationship
For a relationship to be strong, you must invest in three things:
1. Loyalty – Staying faithful in both actions and thoughts.
2. Dedication – Giving your best effort to your partner, without distractions.
3. Trust – Being transparent and building a solid foundation of honesty.
If you do not invest fully in these three aspects, you cannot expect to receive them in return. And if you continue to divide your attention, one day, you might find yourself on the receiving end of the same betrayal.
Loyalty is Gender-Neutral
This advice applies to both men and women. No one is exempt from the responsibility of loyalty and commitment. It is unfair to demand honesty and faithfulness from your partner while failing to offer the same in return. A successful relationship is built on mutual trust and effort, regardless of gender.
A Relationship is Not a Backup Plan
Unlike business or career decisions, where diversification is a safety strategy, a relationship demands 100% investment. If you keep entertaining other options, you are setting yourself up for heartbreak. True commitment means putting all your eggs in one basket—choosing one person and dedicating yourself to them fully. Only then can you expect to receive the same love and loyalty in return.