Once all of the licenses have been signed and notarized, and the ceremony has been held, attended, and witnessed - you've entered into the state known as matrimony. Chances are, when you said your wedding vows, you said something along the lines of "till death do us part". Marriage is meant to last a lifetime; unfortunately, as the soaring divorce rate can attest, this often isn't the case. Whether it's from misunderstandings, infidelities, or just growing in different directions, there are ways to fix a broken marriage.

One of the first things to recognize in fixing a broken marriage is the need for understanding. Couples need to truly understand their partner, and understand what their partner is trying to say to them - with words or otherwise. Taking steps to foster that understanding in the beginning of a relationship can help head off "injuries" to the marriage later on down the road.

For most people, if they've taken the steps to create a home together, they feel safe with their partner - or at least they did. If that feeling of safety is breached, couples will often decide to separate, officially breaking the marriage bond. People need to understand, though, that not every marital problem that arises is of crisis proportion and deserving of that separation. Learning the skills necessary to fix a broken marriage BEFORE the marriage is in trouble can keep your relationship moored in tranquil waters, not navigating the sea of divorce. Wanting to fix the problem, or problems, is the first step in actually healing that breech in the relationship. Whatever the impetus is for wanting that healing - children, being miserable single - take it and run with it, right to a professional.

Ultimately, the skill that's needed the most in fixing a broken marriage is commitment. Not just commitment to the marriage vows themselves, either, but commitment to the process of reconciliation and strengthening the relationship. One-sided commitment to marriage counseling, for example, won't work. While working on making yourself the best person you can be can absolutely benefit your marriage, the marriage itself is a group project.