Why 'Being in Love' is a Poor Foundation for Forever - The Marriage Trap

The Marriage Trap: Why 'Being in Love' is a Poor Foundation for Forever

Insight By: Oudney Patsika | Topic: Relationships & Strategy

We are obsessed with the "spark." We prioritize butterflies over character, and passion over provider potential. But is the modern "in love" requirement actually destroying marriages?

Why Love Isn’t the Ultimate Requirement for Marriage
Does he offer stability? Do we share values? Or is it just 'love'?

Why Love is Volatile

As quickly as you fall in love, you can fall out of it. If love is your primary connection, what happens when the emotion evaporates? The relationship either ends or becomes toxic. This is true for passionate, physical love as well as the elusive concept of "soul-mate" love. Feelings are not a strategy.

Love is strong, but it is not structural. It cannot stand alone as the basis for a long-term enterprise like marriage (especially when children are involved). Anything built solely on the foundation of how you feel today is subject to crumbling when the storms of life hit tomorrow.

The Strategic Alternative

Love is far from "all you need." We often "fall in love with love," ignoring the necessity of mutual respect, shared goals, and compatibility. A sustainable relationship is built on alignment, not just attraction.

The Recipe: 3 Cups Respect; 2 Cups Shared Goals; 2 Cups Compatibility; 1 Tablespoon Love; 1 Teaspoon Attraction (Optional!).

Historically, marriage was a strategic merger for financial gain, status, and survival. Whether a woman "loved" her man was often of no consequence. While we don't want to return to loveless arrangements, we must ask: Is there peace in marrying for stability, respect, and admiration? Can't we be content when the things that actually matter for survival are present?

The Strategic Marriage Audit

My parents had a tumultuous marriage, but they loved each other. That taught me an invaluable lesson: Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you should be married to them.

Before you say "I do," ask these questions instead of asking "Do I have butterflies?":

  • Can we get along?
  • Do we value each other’s opinion?
  • Do we admire each other?
  • Would I want my children to be like him/her?
  • Does he offer stability?
  • Do we share similar values?

An affirmative answer to these questions is worth more than a thousand "I love yous."

Rethink Your Relationships

Are you building a marriage on sand or rock? Let's discuss relationship strategy.

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Editorial Strategist at Sona Headlines | Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at Solar Reviews Zimbabwe | Digital Managing Editor (DME) at Solar Quotes Zimbabwe | Marketing and Brand Strategy at Sona Solar Zimbabwe.

Oudney Patsika is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur, award-winning Business Growth Architect, and renewable energy leader. He plays a strategic role in shaping editorial direction, digital growth, and brand architecture across leading business, media, and renewable energy platforms in Zimbabwe.


Beyond the solar sector, Patsika is the Founder of Leaders.co.zw and Pastors.co.zw, platforms dedicated to aligning vocation, leadership, and marketplace execution. He is widely known for building and advising hyper-profitable businesses across multiple industries through strategic consulting and growth systems.


A respected thought leader, he regularly publishes insights on business strategy, leadership, and personal development , and frequently speaks at industry events and conferences, championing a cleaner, smarter, and more prosperous future for Zimbabwe and Africa.

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