To reinforce the principles of mentorship, counseling, and strong support networks in marriage, couples should actively engage in exercises that encourage reflection, communication, and relationship-building. These exercises will help couples evaluate their current support system, seek guidance where needed, and establish healthy boundaries that protect their marriage.

Exercise 1: Marriage Support System Audit

Objective:
Evaluate the strength of your marriage support system and identify gaps that need attention.

Instructions:

1. Each partner should list five people who positively influence their marriage (e.g., mentors, trusted friends, family members, faith leaders, counselors).
2. Rank them based on the role they play in your relationship (e.g., emotional support, financial guidance, spiritual mentorship).
3. Discuss:

• • Do we have enough reliable people in our marriage support system?
  • Are we missing a professional counselor or marriage mentor?
  • Do we have any relationships that bring more harm than good?

1. Identify one action step to strengthen your support system (e.g., joining a marriage group, seeking a mentor, cutting toxic influences).

Exercise 2: Mentorship and Guidance Plan

Objective:
Develop a plan for seeking mentorship and accountability in marriage.

Instructions:

1. Discuss as a couple:

• • Have we ever sought mentorship for our marriage?
  • What kind of guidance do we think we need most (e.g., financial, parenting, emotional connection)?

1. List potential mentors or marriage groups (e.g., an older couple, a pastor, a professional counselor).
2. Set a goal for mentorship engagement (e.g., "We will meet with a mentor couple once every three months").
3. Schedule a first step (e.g., reaching out to a mentor, attending a marriage seminar, booking a counseling session).

Exercise 3: Establishing Boundaries with External Influences

Objective:
Set clear boundaries with friends, family, and social influences to protect the marriage.

Instructions:

1. Individually list three situations where external influences (e.g., friends, family, work) have negatively impacted your marriage.
2. Share your lists and discuss common themes.
3. Use the "Boundary Setting Framework" to draft clear boundaries:

• • Issue: What is the problem?
  • Expectation: What boundary needs to be set?
  • Communication Plan: How will we communicate this boundary respectfully?

1. Role-play a boundary-setting conversation (e.g., setting limits with an over-involved parent, managing friends who disrespect your spouse).
2. Commit to enforcing the boundaries together.

Exercise 4: Identifying and Removing Harmful Influences

Objective:
Recognize unhealthy friendships or influences and take steps to protect the marriage.

Instructions:

1. Individually answer:

• • Do I have any friendships that negatively impact my marriage?
  • Are there people who encourage bad habits, excessive independence, or negativity toward my spouse?

1. List two to three actions to limit or restructure these relationships (e.g., reducing time spent with toxic influences, setting clear limits on communication).
2. Discuss how both partners can support each other in maintaining these boundaries.

Exercise 5: Strengthening Your Village – Support System Expansion

Objective:
Actively build and strengthen relationships with those who uplift your marriage.

Instructions:

1. Write down three couples or individuals whose marriages you admire.
2. Identify one way to connect with each of them (e.g., inviting them to dinner, joining a marriage enrichment program they recommend).
3. Plan one community or faith-based event to attend together that fosters relationship-building.
4. Reflect:

• • What did we learn from our interactions with these couples?
  • How can we continue growing our marriage by surrounding ourselves with strong relationships?

Exercise 6: Accountability Check-In with a Trusted Couple or Mentor

Objective:
Establish an ongoing check-in system with a trusted couple or mentor.

Instructions:

1. Identify a mentor couple who can hold you accountable in your marriage growth.
2. Decide on a frequency of check-ins (e.g., once a month, quarterly).
3. Plan discussion topics for your check-ins (e.g., conflict resolution, financial planning, parenting struggles).
4. Schedule the first meeting and reflect on key takeaways afterward.

Exercise 7: Role-Playing Difficult Conversations with a Mentor or Accountability Partner

Objective:
Practice handling tough marital situations with external guidance.

Instructions:

1. Choose one area of conflict or concern in your marriage (e.g., financial stress, lack of intimacy, disagreements with in-laws).
2. Role-play a constructive conversation where both partners express their feelings respectfully and work toward a solution.
3. If possible, have a trusted mentor, counselor, or accountability partner observe and provide feedback on how to improve communication.
4. Reflect on what changes you can implement to reduce conflict and improve connection.

Exercise 8: Strengthening Spiritual and Emotional Connection as a Couple

Objective:
Build emotional and spiritual intimacy through shared practices.

Instructions:

1. Write down three spiritual or emotional activities you would like to do together (e.g., couple’s prayer, reading a book together, attending a marriage retreat).
2. Decide on one weekly habit that strengthens your emotional bond (e.g., sharing gratitude before bed, taking evening walks, having Sunday reflections).
3. Track your consistency and reflect on how these practices improve your connection.

Final Thoughts

Marriage is not meant to be navigated in isolation. A strong support system—including mentors, marriage-friendly friends, and accountability partners—creates a safety net for challenges, a source of wisdom for decision-making, and an encouragement system for continuous growth. These exercises provide structured ways to strengthen marriage by ensuring that external influences contribute positively rather than cause harm. By taking intentional steps to build, maintain, and protect a healthy marriage, couples create a resilient, deeply connected partnership that can withstand life's inevitable challenges.