How do I communicate better with my partner?

Introduction

What do you need to do in order to communicate with your partner? It's not as simple as saying, "I want to be more communicative," because being able to communicate with someone else takes a lot of work. It requires trust, honesty and empathy—all things that are hard to come by in the context of a relationship. But I'm going to share some tips on how you can improve your communication skills so that your relationship doesn't suffer!

Trust your partner

Trust is a vital part of any relationship. It's important to trust your partner, and to let them know that you trust them. This can be as simple as saying "I trust you," or giving them an unexpected hug when they come home from work.

Trust doesn't need to be something that is always spoken out loud; it can also be communicated through actions, like letting your partner know that you feel comfortable spending time alone with their friends or family members, for example.

Communicate in-person rather than via texts or through the phone

There are a lot of benefits to in-person communication, which is why it should be your first choice over texts and phone calls.

  • You can communicate more clearly. When you’re talking face to face, there is no mistaking what the other person means! The tone of their voice and their facial expressions will give you all the information you need about how they feel about something.

  • You can read each other's body language better than over the phone or text messages because it’s easier for people to lie with just words alone than when they know that someone would see them if they were relying on an in-person interaction.

There's no such thing as a dumb question

Asking questions is the best way to make sure that you and your partner are on the same page, so don't hesitate to do it. If you've got a question or concern about something in your relationship, don't worry about whether it's too trivial or silly for them to tell you. If there's something that you want to know more about but can't figure out how to ask, ask anyway!

It's okay if your partner doesn't know the answer—and even better if they get an opportunity to learn some new things as a result of asking them. And even if they think they do have all the answers (and sometimes this is true), being wrong sometimes is actually pretty fun too!

Be honest about how you're feeling

It's also important to be honest about how you're feeling, and not afraid to tell your partner what you need or don't want in order to have a happy relationship. If something is bothering you, don't hold it inside. Communication is the key to any healthy relationship! Don't be afraid of hurting their feelings—if something is bothering them about how you're acting or treating them, chances are that they won’t see it as a negative thing if it's brought up in a calm way. Just remember that communication doesn’t always have to be verbal; sometimes body language can say more than words ever could!

Be mindful of how your partner is feeling and acting toward you

When communicating with your partner, it's important to be mindful of how they're feeling. Asking questions will help you understand what's going on in their mind, which can help you know how to respond. It's also important not just to be aware of your partner's behavior but also their feelings. What does your partner feel about something? How does it make them feel? And how do those feelings change when interacting with others?

Don't try to solve their problems for them, but let them know you're listening and want to help.

Don't try to solve their problems for them, but let them know you're listening and want to help.

It's important not to be too quick to offer solutions. If someone is having a problem or feeling bad, sometimes just acknowledging that can be more helpful than trying to fix it right away. It's also important not to make assumptions about what they want—it could be something small like suggesting they take a break from work, or it could be something big like moving in together. Your partner may have their own ideas about how they want things handled and will appreciate the chance to express those thoughts without being pressured into making decisions quickly.

Remember that your relationship is your business, not anyone else's.

It's important to remember that your relationship is your business and no one else's. If you let other people interfere, they will try to dictate the terms of your relationship and how it should be run. This can come in many forms:

  • Some people may tell you that they know what's best for you and try to convince you to do what they think is best for your relationship.

  • Others may make an effort to control how much time or affectionate attention you give each other by telling you what kind of behavior "healthy" couples engage in instead of listening to what makes sense for YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND YOUR COUPLESHIP GOALS!

Communication can be very difficult in relationships. It requires effort, attention and commitment from both parties.

Communication is a skill that requires practice, attention and commitment from both parties. You won't get good at it overnight, but if you dedicate yourself to practicing the right skills and listening with an open heart and mind, you'll find that your relationship will grow stronger.

It's important to be open and honest with each other in your communication; this shows respect for one another's feelings and opinions. It also makes sure that your partner doesn't feel like he or she is being kept out of the loop because it feels like something is being hidden from them (which can lead to resentment).

When communicating with each other, make sure that both of your conversations are focused on what matters most: how you can work together as a team towards solving problems rather than pointing fingers at each other when things go wrong!

Nicholas Purcell

Nicholas Purcell is a couples counsellor and psychotherapist based in Adelaide, Australia. He works with couples seeking healthy, adult relationship.

http://www.nicholaspurcell.com.au
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