One of the most important aspects of a good relationship is that you feel safe with your partner, that you believe your partner has your back and is really there for you. Getting married signifies the highest level of commitment. It conveys to both of you that you are willing to throw all of it in together — your living space, your assets, your emotional vulnerability, your health and overall well-being.
There is no other relationship in which you commit to being together not just for years, but for decades, and in which you commit not to bail even if it is challenging. When you’re married, you’re in it for the long run.
The research now shows that when you make that level of commitment, your brain gets it and relaxes. You really do emotionally “exhale” in the context of marriage in a way that you cannot in a cohabiting relationship. Your brain knows the difference; it knows that when you are not married, you haven’t yet made that level of commitment, so it doesn’t entirely relax.
Marriage is better than living together was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
