3 Reasons Second Marriages Succeed

Don’t marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can’t live without. – James Dobson

Second marriages are significantly more likely to stand the test of time, according to a recent article in the Daily Mail.

Second Marriages: More Likely To Last

As someone who regularly works with individuals facing marriage problems, this news doesn’t surprise me at all.
There are a number of reasons why second marriages tend to work out more often, but here are three of the most common:

1. Experience Gained in the First Marriage

It goes without saying, but you have to be married and divorced once before you can be eligible to have a “second marriage.” And that entire ordeal often provides invaluable experience that you can use and apply to a second marriage scenario.

During a first marriage, many people learn things about themselves and their preferences in a partner that they weren’t aware of before being married.

Another benefit comes from understanding the logistics of running a home, sharing financial responsibilities, and holding yourself accountable to another person.

Sharing your life is about understanding compromise, picking your battles, and learning how to communicate effectively. All of these traits improve with time and “practice.”

These lessons (and, more often than not, mistakes) can help you make better decisions when committing to a second marriage.

2. A Desire to Get It Right the Second Time Around

Again, this might seem obvious, but there’s nothing more motivating than getting older and feeling like you need to “get it right” this time around.

Having already failed at marriage once, most people tend to have a “do it right” mentality when it comes to re-marrying. Not only does the experience of the first marriage give useful insight and experience, it also provides a life lesson about what it’s like when marriage fails.

And that can be a motivating factor when it comes to finding a partner that will allow a happy and long-lasting second marriage.

Another common trend among second-time spouses is their deep sense of gratitude. After the failure of a first marriage, after the loss of the good parts of a relationship, you are much more likely to appreciate the small things in the second.

Gratitude for a second chance, for love, and for companionship contributes to a fuller life and a deeper, easier acceptance of the “bad” as part of the good.

3. Less Pressure

First marriages can sometimes become somewhat “rushed” because one or both of the involved parties feels a need to settle down and begin a family before they get “too old.”

This can often pressure people into making rushed decisions or leaping into marriage before they’re fully ready.

When it comes to second marriages, there are no guarantees that you’ll feel any less pressure, but more often than not, there is less of a “time-sensitive” approach to marriage, and more time to consider whether you’re both right for one another and ready for a lifelong commitment.

There’s nothing overtly glamorous about a second marriage, because it means that your first try at “true love” ended in heartbreak.

But, at the same time, people who have recently experienced divorce shouldn’t stress about whether or not they’ll ever find love again.

Once you do find love for a second time, it’s more likely to last than the first time around!

Brad Browning

Brad Browning is widely regarded as the world's most trusted breakup experts, boasting over 12 years of experience working with clients from around the world. Brad's #1 best-selling breakup reversal guide, The Ex Factor, has helped more than 130,000 people from 131 countries to re-unite with an ex. Brad is also the author of Mend The Marriage, a comprehensive self-help guide that teaches married couples how to save their dying marriage and prevent divorce. Brad’s YouTube channel has over 400,000 subscribers and 50 million views, and he has been featured in a number of well-known media outlets and industry journals.