"Communication is the key to all relationships."
I bet you’ve heard about this before!
Though it sounds cliché, it’s true. If two people in a relationship can’t communicate well with each other, misunderstandings will get built up, and they will end up separating. In case you want to strengthen your relationship, you need to open the door to healthy communication.
So, how to improve relationship communication?
Let’s find out in the following…
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5 Tips to Communicate with Your Partner Better
Communication is all about sharing your ideas and feelings and listening to the other when they do the same thing. Being good at talking is not enough, but you have to be an equally attentive listener as well in order to be a great communicator.
See also: 3 signs your ex secretly wants you back
Here are 5 tips that can help you communicate better in your relationship:
1. Come with open-ended questions
What do you talk with your lover aside from asking about each other’s days and what they had for lunch? Communication is more than that. When communicating with someone, it means that you want to dig deep and get to know them as much as you can. Of course making in-depth conversations is never easy, especially if your partner is not the type that can quickly opens up their feelings.
Also, people don’t often make every conversation a heart to heart.
How to get someone to open up without feeling like you’re forcing them to reveal their secrets? My answer is asking open-ended questions! This kind of question allows your partner to share more ideas if they want to aside from “good”, “fine”, etc.
Not all of us can open up immediately. Therefore, you should be more patient if they don’t really want to share. Each person has different boundaries around their emotions and we can’t expect all are the same. Be respectful of their emotional boundaries, and they will give you the same amount of respect in return.
When the two of you understand each other on a deeper level, you will be open and honest in the relationship.
2. Don’t try reading your partner’s mind
Some couples often say that they can tell what each other is feeling without asking, just by looking. Honestly, it’s not always easy to do that. Being a mind reader in a relationship is not really a great idea. You may make correct guesses some time, but not all the time. Plus, as we’re talking about improving relationship communication, it’s better to ask when you don’t get what your partner is feeling.
They will never mind if you ask!
If you’re the one holding things in, there are 3 possibilities:
- The first one – your partner knows exactly what you’re thinking as they can read your mind – which rarely happens between a couple in the real life.
- Your partner will ask you what is going on.
- The simplest one – they just ignore your problem.
If they come and ask you, take a moment to appreciate that. In a relationship, don’t hold in everything. When you’re ready to open up your personal issues, just let them know how you’re feeling. Don’t tell them that you’re okay when you’re not and then get mad because they can’t figure it out. That will make your relationship unhealthy!
Be honest with your feelings and try to express it in a healthy way.
3. Listen and listen
As I mentioned from the beginning, communication isn’t all about talking. A great communicator must be an active listener. During a conversation, try to listen to and keep up with things your partner is saying. Don’t act defensive without paying attention to their story as well as understanding their perspectives.
You must be in the moment, and don’t let your partner realize that you get distracted or bored.
4. Tell your partner what you need from them
When being in a relationship with the person you love, one of the greatest things is to have their support, or it could be their advice some other times. Bear in mind that none of us are mind readers; therefore, you have to keep your partner informed so that the two of you can always be on the same page. Don’t be shy or embarrassed – tell them what you need at a certain moment or in a situation.
It’s amazing to be with someone who can be with you through thick and thin. But first of all, you must let them know your needs. When being direct with each other, both can avoid miscommunication, misunderstanding, disagreement, and stress that may show up in between.
5. Don’t make the conversation about yourself only
FYI, conversations are a two-way street.
When talking with your partner, it’s necessary to take note of how many times you mention "I", "you", and "we". A conversation is not really a conversation if it revolves mostly around you. Don’t just tell stories of yourself! Remember to ask your partner some questions about how they feel, what’s going on with them, and their thoughts about anything.
If "you" keep showing up in the conversation, then you’re preventing them from getting to know you deeper.
For a successful conversation in a relationship, it needs two people. Each should share what’s on their mind and need to feel heard as well. What if your partner overtakes the talk and you can’t butt in? The answer is, of course, letting them know! Some people are aware about the fact they dominate the conversation, so help them realize that.
Ideal conversations should flow naturally back and forth between two persons.
Final Words
Now you’ve got the tips on how to improve relationship communication!
In short, communication is a skill, which means you can always improve it every single day. Work together with your partner so that both can stay on the same page and maintain healthy communication. To be a great communicator, you need to be thoughtful, considerate, honest, direct, and kind.
Lastly, try to open up to each other!
If having any question about this article, leave your comment below.
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