You've been married for 10 years, but your last intimate conversation with your lover was five years ago. Now, you and your mate talk more about kid's activities than your own emotions. You spend more time arguing over bills than reliving your favorite memories. The Relationship Gym claims that communication is woven through every aspect of a relationship. It reflects how each person in a relationship feels about the other. With a little work, most communication breakdowns are fixable.
Talk Through Touch
Communication involves more than words. One important way to communicate is through touch, because nonverbal cues are critical to communication. These cues include gestures like eye contact, touching your partner and even leaning forward when your partner is talking. Paying attention to nonverbal cues your partner is sending, or making an effort to send more nonverbal cues yourself, is one way to improve communication in your relationship. Nonverbal cues also help couples build trust and strengthen bonds.
Be Specific About Feelings
Marriage and family therapist Dr. Larry Alan Nadig advises couples to use specifics when communicating. Express your feelings in a clear way. Use more than two or three words to explain to your partner how you feel. If you tell your partner you are sad, explain the degree of sadness you are feeling to avoid miscommunication.
Dr. Nadig adds that if you have mixed feelings, describe each feeling you are experiencing to your partner. This may seem awkward at first, but it is a good habit that can help improve communication. He also recommends that people express their feelings in a timely manner rather than letting them fester.
Stop to Laugh
Laughter is a powerful form of communication. Playful communication keeps relationships exciting and fresh. The site adds that laughter creates intimacy in a relationship by combating stress and disappointments. Laughter helps resolve differences, puts situations into perspective and eliminates tension in stressful situations. The next time an argument gets heated, instead of yelling or turning a cold shoulder, try to find some humor in the situation to help improve communication.
Don't Assume Anything
Maybe it feels like you have known your mate forever and you think he can interpret every expression on your face and read your mind. Perhaps you assume he knows what you want based on your mood. The Health Guide cautions people not to assume anything. It's important to communicate your needs instead of waiting for your partner to guess them. People change over time and so needs and desires. Communicate clearly to eliminate any guesswork. This is a surefire way to improve communication in your relationship.
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