Communicating Couples for the Win
Aug 14, 2019
Every couple at one point has heard the saying "communication is key" but how many couples put that into practice is a different story. Everyone who has been in a relationship knows that communication will either make or break it. There are ways for couples to learn better communication skills that will help them the next time an argument arises.
Listen
Listening to your partner's reasonings and feelings it the key in having good communication and diffusing a tense situation. Interrupting your partner, yelling, or blatantly ignoring your partner can cause them to feel unimportant or belittled. Once your partner feels like their opinion isn't important the conversation will escalate into an argument. So it is important to hear your partner's side and then calmly state yours.
Agree to Disagree
Sometimes during a conversation, you and your partner will not come to an agreement. This is where you agree to disagree. During these incidences, you both need to remember that you are separate people with separate feelings and beliefs. One can't force another to see a certain situation their way. This is a perfect opportunity to compromise if the situation demands a result.
Compromise
Compromising is always the way to go in any situation. If you and your partner both want things to go a specific way, compromising is usually the only way to make both parties content. Both parties need to remember that compromising will not give them exactly what they want, but will give them a result that makes the couple as a whole happier.
Seek Outside Help
If you tried these simple communication techniques but still see problems, reach out to family or friends who have succeeded in overcoming their communication issues. Talking to loved ones about the incidents may bring clarity that you otherwise didn't have. Before you bring an outsider into your relationship, both you and your partner need to come up with an agreement. Discuss what and how much information you both want to share and who to share it with.
Remember, good communication takes time and there is no shame in asking for help. If you desire to seek professional help, couples counseling is a great option when you crave a safe/unbiased environment for you and your partner. To learn more about couples counseling, please contact us.