There’s no doubt about it … a family crisis can take a toll on even the most committed marriages.

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

Over the years, I’ve learned that family conflict has a tendency to amplify the true condition of a relationship. It doesn’t cause new problems, but merely calls attention to areas of existing weakness.

If a family crisis is bringing to light the messier side of your marriage, here’s my advice: don’t expect your spouse to change. Instead, focus on changing yourself.

When you make yourself stronger and healthier through things like counseling and spiritual growth … the environment in your home will change.

So if you start seeing flaws in others, by all means … hope and pray for change. But don’t expect it. Because the only person you can change is you.