Truly healthy marriages fulfill a transformational purpose: “helping one another to reach the full status of being persons, responsible and autonomous beings who do not run away from life.” What is required is that couples must eventually move “beyond the bliss” and unrealistic expectations, to a place in their marriage where they are willing to engage in some hard work and thrive in a broken world.

In his best-selling book The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck makes the point that life is difficult, problems are inevitable, and that we, as individuals, can either learn to deal with our problems wisely, becoming more emotionally and spiritually healthy in the process, or we can allow them to undo us. “Four life disciplines,” says Peck, “make all the difference.” In this groundbreaking book, Gary and Patti Tyra explain how applying Peck’s four life disciplines to our marriages is crucial to their becoming transformational in character. Our marriages can become truly healthy, empowering both marital partners to become more fully and responsibly human.