Divorce Lawyer Jim Sexton on Why Marriage is Hard & How to Redesign It

The State of Marriage and Divorce

• 💔 Marriage rates are down, and while divorce rates have commensurately decreased, dissatisfaction within marriage may be higher than commonly measured.
• 💡 Many marriages remain intact but are unsuccessful, with individuals staying together out of obligation rather than genuine connection.
• 📈 The expectation placed on marriage is incredibly high, often fueled by unrealistic portrayals in media, leading to commensurate disappointment.
• 📉 Behaviors like criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling are symptoms of underlying disconnection, often developing slowly before a relationship ends.

Redefining Marriage and Its Purpose

• 🏛️ Historically, marriage served purposes like land ownership and lineage preservation, but its relevance for modern, often secular, couples is questioned.
• ❓ The core problem marriage aims to solve is debated, with the idea of marriage as a