All strong, healthy marriages have these four traits in common: love, communication, companionship and trust. After the initial rush of romance, it's easy for couples to drift apart as the day-to-day grind takes its toll on the relationship. When two people spend so much time together, it's not unfathomable that they might begin to take one anther for granted and lose sight of what first attracted them so much to the other.

It takes effort and patience on both sides, but it is possible to maintain or re-create a strong sense of connection and teamwork with your spouse. The following four tips can boost any relationship, whether it's a newly minted marriage or a union that has lasted for decades.

Rediscover Communication

No relationship can survive without honest, direct communication. It doesn't do either person any good if one or both bottle up feelings or try to turn a blind eye to escalating problems. A lack of communication will become an ever-widening gulf in the marriage. Each spouse will grow to feel alone and disconnected.

Mixed messages and misunderstandings are usually at the root of marital strife. Too many couples make the fatal error of believing their spouse should automatically know how they feel or what they're trying to say. Unless you're married to a mind-reader, it's a much better strategy to choose your words carefully and be conscious of your tone and body language. If you start every sentence with "You" you'll come across as trying to lay all the blame at your partner's feet. Begin with "I" instead to let them know you're not pointing fingers, you're just trying to explain how you feel.

Love Can't Survive Without Trust

For a marriage to truly thrive, you must be able to unconditionally trust your spouse, and vice versa. Building trust requires that both members of the couple always be there for one another, and that neither lies nor breaks promises. Without faith in one another, a couple will not be able to withstand the onslaught of anger, jealousy, and suspicion that will develop.

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

To have a close bond with someone means to be able to view things through their perspective instead of focusing solely on your own needs and feelings. Be willing to compromise once in awhile. In the midst of an argument, take a pause and really listen to what your partner is trying to get across to you. You may find that what the both of you want is not really so different after all.

Give Each Other a Little Space

Just because you're married doesn't mean you have to grow inseparable. In a healthy marriage, spouses trust and respect one another enough to spend quality time apart. This bit of "breathing room" can help prevent the two of you from getting on each other's nerves, while allowing each person opportunity to pursue their own interests and skills. Then, when you meet up again at the end of the day, you'll both have exciting new ideas, funny stories, and fresh enthusiasm to contribute to your relationship.

A fulfilling, happy marriage takes two people willing to invest a huge part of themselves in the other. But it should never demand that one or both lose sight of who they truly are or what they truly want out of life. Instead it should be a powerful connection between two people who genuinely trust one another and want to help the other be their best self and achieve their dreams.