A series of positive actions holds the potential for turning the tide in a troubled marriage. 5. Admitting my imperfections does not mean that I am a failure. Most miserable marriages include a stone wall between husband and wife, built over many years. Each stone represents an event in the past where one of them has failed the other. These are the things people talk about when they sit in the counseling office. The husband complains, “She has been critical of my performance on the job and as a father….