Understanding Effective Communication Skills For Couples

By Harriett Crosby


It these times of busy work schedules, many couples are expressing their discontent with the developments in their love life. In any relationship, intimacy will only be possible if the involved parties take time to grasp effective communication skills for couples. At the heart of most relationship problems are misconceptions about the very essence of communication in a marriage.

At its simplest, communication represents a flow of views, concerns and ideas between two parties without discriminating the source. After voicing your idea, you must humbly await the response from your other half before expressing the next thing on your mind. Even in the event that your partner is wrong, you must lie low and let them tell you why they choose to differ from your point of view.

Even if you are giving a listening ear, never push your real emotions under the carpet in a bid to please your partner. Every person will naturally have a differing opinion about any topic being discussed and this fact must be respected at all times. If a costly mistake has been made, do not waste time trying to blame each other, suggest what you as an individual could have done to avoid it.

Misunderstanding a spouse is the surest recipe for a heated argument. To get their point, you must have good listening skills and take time to mentally digest what they said. A good listener will give unwavering eye contact and combine it with body language such as nodding the head or repeating their words for clarity. It is not advisable to infer their meaning based on some experience you had in the past as it comes off as a rude gesture.

Raising your voice at a partner makes them feel insignificant at the moment, so it is better to avoid it altogether. Sometimes, it pays to just leave a hot topic for another day when your minds are settled. Marriage in itself is a complicated affair that calls for endurance and sacrifice to keep it working. It is not possible for the stranger that is your spouse to fully understand your fears, wants or opinions.

One thing individuals starting marriage life should try is to separate issues. Just because the boss gave you a rough time at office does not give you the authority to let it out on your innocent wife at home. Some emotion can be contagious, talking with a happy person may make you happier ad vice versa.

Respecting your lover also means treating them with the same respect that you accord another individuals you interact with on a daily basis. Insulting them will eventually culminate in disrespect and an untimely end to an otherwise healthy relationship. More often than not, what matters is not what you are saying but how you will say it. Obscenities will not make you feel better but will dampen the moods of a listener.

Keeping quiet about something that troubles you will not keep your house calm for long. Problems tend to fester into full blown outbursts that are detrimental to the health of your marriage. A good practice in effective communication skills for couples is dedicating about half an hour daily to bond with your spouse through conversation.




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