On the Torah’s statement that a wife was created as “ezer kenegdo, a helpmate against him,” the Talmud explains “If he is worthy, she is a helpmate.  If he is not worthy, she is against him.”

R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l added, “This applies to every minute of a person’s life.  Whenever I improve myself, my wife becomes better too.”  ~ Sparks of Mussar