Romantic relationships often encounter challenges and difficulties born of poor communication. Communication often can be the most important aspect of maintaining and growing a healthy relationship. Even though you can spend years studying how to effectively communicate, you also can practice a few simple strategies in your romantic relationship. Learning to communicate well with your partner takes time, effort and practice, but it will help you and your partner enjoy a more fulfilling relationship.
Step 1
Learn to empathize with one another, seeking to truly experience the emotions of the other person. "In the DNA of Relationships,” Gary Smalley notes that the key is not merely to understand the other person’s feelings, but to allow the feelings to touch you.
Step 2
Practice active listening, including asking helpful questions and making meaningful eye contact. Suspend judgement to better understand one another’s thoughts, feelings and needs.
Step 3
Develop healthy communication patterns, including regular affirmation and encouragement and allow these healthy patterns to replace harmful habits in your relationship. For example, you may have a tendency to find fault with your partner or your partner may seek to avoid conflict. Both of these communication habits will erode trust and intimacy in your relationship.
Step 4
Appreciate the differences between you and your partner and navigate them together. Relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott stress that because of the differences between men and women acceptance is vital to effective communication.
Step 5
Get creative. Affectionate touch can serve as a powerful communication tool. Holding hands, warm hugs and gentle touches all contribute to the overall health of your relationship.
Tips and Warnings
- Accept that communication between two people is always imprecise and fraught with the potential for misunderstanding. Once you allow communication to be a complex, imperfect process, then you can develop greater patience in navigating communication challenges.
- Do not allow serious communication problems, such as escalating conflict and verbal abuse, to continue without seeking outside help and intervention. The health of a relationship always depends on the health of both individuals involved, and if either you or your partner needs more focused and therapeutic help, seek it out.
References
- “The DNA of Relationships”; Gary Smalley; 2004
- “Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts”; Les Parrott, Leslie Parrott; 2006
Member Comments