Are you one of those people who are left with the question “does my spouse still love me?” It’s a terrible feeling. You run out of answers and find yourself unable to sleep at night. You start to think about how you could have made it work if you had just tried harder or said “I love you” more often or even made it home on time for those dinners. Despair can set in.

But now, you can say goodbye to those sleepless nights because yes, there is a way to tell if there is still hope for that “hopeless” marriage of yours. But first of all, you have to be prepared to be brutally honest with yourself. You may be facing some hard truths about your relationship that you may not want to hear. But if you think the marriage you have is worth saving, then you better listen, tear down that thick wall of pride, and be prepared for what you see in the mirror.

Even before you go to beg for forgiveness, try to think about what made your marriage sour in the first place. Usually there is a trigger. Was your job getting in the way, was it jealousy or something else? When you’ve figured that out, ask yourself if you’re ready to adjust to get things working again. Maybe less time at the office and more time at home, or finding a new secretary who no longer flirts with you at the office, it’s all up to you.

After you’ve made that decision, try to have a heart-to-heart with your estranged spouse. Tell them your plan to fix your marriage again. Be ready to say I’m sorry, and mean it. This can be a lot easier said than done, especially for those who had a not-so-great breakup. If this is the case, be prepared to wait for the right moment. Waiting is part of the sacrifice you must make.

The hard truth is that it may not always go as planned. Your spouse may accept you back or may close the door on you again. But the most important thing about this is that you must give your best. Every marriage deserves another chance to succeed.