Marriages may be made in heaven but divorces are definitely made on earth and according to marriage counselors all over the developing and developed world are divorces are more rampant across all age groups and economic status. While this is not the platform for discussing the psycho-social factors which could be triggering this trend, we would talk about tips on how to save the marriage and avoid divorce.

It all starts more or less the same way, across the globe. Familiar phrases for many are: We married for the wrong reasons; I don't seem to understand you anymore; We ought to give each other more space; Making love to you these days is like raping a wall; Why don't we break it to the kids gently, but now; and of course many more depending on individual situation.

While these could be common in many homes these days, it is the precursor for an unhappy ending to an otherwise happy tale. Divorce, however welcome it may be for the partners, carries its due share of pain and tears, no matter how bravely the partners may decide to end their marital bonding, not to speak of the mental trauma it can bring to the children, if any. After all it was that promise "till death do us apart" which rings in your ears. Be that as it may, here are 5 proven formulae which have met with significant degree of success amongst many couples. Incidentally, you could call them, revisiting some of the basic truth behind any relationship:

1. Probe deeper. Find out exactly what is going wrong with the marriage. Do this with an unbiased and open mind. Most people 'think' they know what is going wrong but if you approach your spouse with a fresh and fearless mind and go deeper into all the issues which are upsetting both of you - you would be surprise at the new insight you can get of the situation as well as your spouse, who you thought you knew very well.

2. Bring back love: Remember the first reason why you both tied the knot was that you loved each other more than anyone else. Most of the time, both the members of the couple forget this fundamental truth about marriage.

3. Improve communication: Again something most people take for granted when it comes to having any meaningful communication with their spouse. You would be surprised at how many hurts linger in the deeper crevices of the mind, when you open up fresh and unrestricted communication. Do this without anyone around or when your spouse is watching his favorite soccer game.

4. Control your negative emotions: Anger, frustration, stress, jealousy are some of the many negative emotions which spoil any trusted relationship. If you want to save your marriage, bring back trust and respect and stop venting out your pent-up feelings all the time. Respecting the individual for whatever she or he is, is the key to a lasting relationship as well as friendship.

5. Eradicate mental images: Either right from the beginning or over a period of time, couples tend to build up mental images of their partners. These images could be idolizing or simply putting the other person on a pedestal. Gradually, with time the images crumble and suddenly you realize that your partner has all the follies which you hated. Have a re-look and touch reality.

Remember no one is perfect and if your partner has more good points than bad points then it gives you all the reason to continue this marriage. Delete all the superlatives while you admire - start treating your partner as another human, who is likely to err. Forgetting and forgiving is not just a godly act but restores a marriage for good.