Ep. 211 - The Gap Between Expectation and Reality in Marriage

About this episode

Michelle Hays and her husband Brian discuss the gap between expectations and reality in marriage, sharing personal insights and lessons learned from their experiences.

In this honest conversation, I’m joined by my husband, Brian, as we unpack the expectations we carried into our first marriages—and how they shaped what came after. We share the beliefs that didn’t hold up, the lessons we learned the hard way, and the realities of marriage no one really talks about. If you’ve ever wondered why love feels different than you expected, this episode will help you understand what’s actually going on and what it takes to build something stronger the second time around.🔗 Website: www.monarchforlove.com 📘 Book: www.awakenedheartsbook.com Instagram: @Monarchforlove TikTok @monarchforlove

People in this episode

Host: Michelle Hays

Guest: Brian

Topics covered

• marriage expectations
• relationship realities
• second marriages
• lessons learned
• love and relationships

Keywords

• marriage
• expectations
• relationships
• love
• second marriage
• lessons
• reality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Monarch for Love, Awakened Hearts, Instagram, TikTok

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• Ep. 210- The Three Stages of a Loveless Marriage · May 12, 2026 · 10 min
• Ep. 209 - Why You Feel Unloved in Your Relationship (Even When You’re Not) · May 5, 2026 · 15 min
• Ep. 208 - How to Manage Money as a Couple Without Stress · April 28, 2026 · 19 min