Most married couples fall into two categories—satisfied or very satisfied with their marriage. The remaining minority of unhappy couples eventually becomes satisfied or very satisfied with their marriage or they end the marriage.

The early years of my marriage are vividly etched in my mind…the joy…conflicts…and determination to create a successful marriage relationship. We learned that there are seasons of immense joy as well as challenges to overcome in marriage. We believed in each other and in what our marriage could become. We were like 95% of married couples who encounter periods of unhappiness and with commitment and effort move back into a satisfied or very satisfied state in marriage.

In the absence of domestic violence and serious abuse, what is it that holds us back from coming to terms with low satisfaction in our relationships? Are we caught in the ebb and flow of routines that simply carry us from one day to the next? Or are we just too busy and tired to care? Perhaps happiness has been replaced by a more functional relationship.

David Popenoe’s Top Ten Myths of Marriage states that happiness in general has not increased in marriages, but has likely declined somewhat. The life span of a marriage hasn’t really changed much at all over the past fifty years. What has changed according to some studies is the amount of work-related stress, conflict, and the decreased interaction between married partners today compared to those of 20 to 30 years ago.

Typical work-related stressors that can impact marriage happiness include:

• The amount of time dedicated to work at the office or brought home
• The location of a job; the amount of travel involved in fulfilling one’s duties
• Control over the work schedule
• Degree of commitment to a job versus the marriage
• Attitudes about roles at home and division of labor

Clearly attitudes, beliefs, and communication play a significant role in resolving conflicts and other challenges that work-related stressors trigger. Sadly, it’s the lack of awareness of shifting attitudes and beliefs that can creep into a relationship and alter the mindset of the couple.

The good news is that a change in your degree of happiness offers a signal that something has shifted and needs your attention. It may be minor and temporary, or serious, demanding immediate attention, and a long-term plan of action. Whatever it is—until you deal with it you can’t move on to satisfied or very satisfied—which is where every couple wants to be. Happiness has its price. What’s it worth to you?

So, what about you? If you’re a married professional you should have one, or at least have one available to you. What else would you call a select group of truly marvelous, smart, and caring professional women gathered for the simple purpose of inspiring and strategically supporting each other’s “dreams” for their personal life at home?

I call it a dream team. Please don’t tell me you have no dreams for your home life! You wouldn’t dare tolerate such nonsense in your business or career. A career or business without strategic goals won’t accomplish much of anything worthwhile, and you know what–neither will a marriage. Our marriages need the fresh winds of aspiration to keep them alive and growing too. As professional women, we tend to be happiest when we’re in a place of fruitfulness. This fruitfulness can be easily seen in our attitudes about our marriage and family life…it really shows up there, doesn’t it?

Well, having a dream team helps us to cultivate the fruitfulness so essential to our happiness at home.

Happiness has become quite a paradox for so many of us, hasn’t it? As Matthew Kelly says, you and I know the things that make us happy. And yet, we don’t do those things.

Why? Because we’re just too busy. Here’s the real irony–we’re too busy trying to be happy!

If your marriage has taken a back seat to the demands of your career, your parenting, or anything else and you know it - but aren’t sure how to give it the priority and time it deserves on a daily basis - a dream team can provide inspiration and dunamis you need to rejuvenate your marriage, yourself, and your family life!

This month I am starting my Inspirare Mastermind Group. The name Inspirare, comes from the Latin meaning of the word inspire which means to breathe life into another.

Six professional women will join me in this private mastermind group to experience a re-invigoration of their marriage relationship, personal renewal, and to break through old habits, attitudes, and expectations that have held them back. The group will encourage, strategically support, challenge, and hold each other accountable to achieve their individual goals.

You can benefit from this if you want to unlock your potential to thrive by:

• Honestly assessing your relationship
• learning to communicate more collaboratively
• experiencing greater emotional intimacy
• dealing more effectively with personal and relational concerns
• caring for yourself and your partner more intentionally

If you are ready to love and be loved more deeply than ever before, this dream team’s for you! I invite you to start living a bigger, more satisfying reality in your marriage relationship now, before the rush of the holidays, before the end of the year… doesn’t that sound worthwhile?

You, your partner, and children are so worth it…

Contact me to discuss joining this dream team.

Note: There will be two mastermind groups consisting of a maximum of six participants per group. The first 6 people to sign up will receive a complimentary copy of New York Times Bestseller, Matthew Kelly’s inspiring book, The Rhythm of Life–an early Christmas gift for giving your relationship the priority it deserves!