Here Are The Reasons Why Marriage Isn’t For You

Walmart Philosophy

Seth touches one very important thing that ruins marriages, and he gives it a quirky name: ‘Walmart Philosophy’, a way of thinking that causes people to be selfish and think only about themselves. This is how he describes this way of thinking:

“My father’s advice was both shocking and revelatory. It went against the grain of today’s “Walmart philosophy”, which is if it doesn’t make you happy, you can take it back and get a new one.”
When you think about it, it’s sad how this mindset has caused the demise of many couples. This “me, me, me” selfishness can cause a lot of pain for a lot of people. That’s why marriage isn’t for “you”.

Seth elaborates further on this: “No, a true marriage (and true love) is never about you. It’s about the person you love—their wants, their needs, their hopes, and their dreams. Selfishness demands, “What’s in it for me?”, while Love asks, “What can I give?””

Marriage Isn’t A One-Way Street

Even though Seth’s book was about his discovery that marriage wasn’t solely for him, he describes a time in his life when it was his wife’s turn to be selfless and understanding. This showed that marriage isn’t just a one-way street but a contract between two people where they both promise to be kind when the other is selfish.

He says that at one point in their life, despite being in love, his marriage was on the rocks. While he let a few things slip in his emotional state, his wife did not respond with similar rudeness. If she had, it could have been the end of their marriage.
“But instead of matching my selfishness, Kim did something beyond wonderful—she showed an outpouring of love,” says Seth in his blog post.

Marriage Isn’t For You

So, kids, that’s the ultimate lesson. Marriage isn’t for you, it’s for your partner, your family, and your kids.
We’ll leave you with a few parting words from Seth himself:

“To all who are reading this article—married, almost married, single, or even the sworn bachelor or bachelorette—I want you to know that marriage isn’t for you. No true relationship of love is for you. Love is about the person you love.
And, paradoxically, the more you truly love that person, the more love you receive. And not just from your significant other, but from their friends and their family and thousands of others you never would have met had your love remained self-centered. Truly, love and marriage isn’t for you. It’s for others.”

You can order Seth Adam Smith’s “Why Marriage Isn’t For You” online, or buy it at your local bookstore.
Source: https://sethadamsmith.com/2013/11/02/marriage-isnt-for-you/