Part 11 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) Break Free of the Blame Game Relationship tip number ten is an expansion of something I mentioned a moment ago. It is break free of the blame game. We need to use “I” statements instead of “You” statements. One of the most common causes […]

Part 10 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) Practice Listening Hint number nine is practice listening. Practice accurate listening. Practice active listening. Along with speaking more accurately, we have to practice being a good listener. You may say, “I am a good listener. I listen to what they say. I don’t interrupt […]

Part 9 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) One Thing at a Time Tip number eight is that when you go to talk about things that are important to you, talk about one thing at a time. Talk about only one topic. When people get in heated discussions, they often feel like […]

Part 8 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) Be Honest Tip number seven is be honest. There is honest and there is brutally honest. I once counseled a woman who didn’t have any long term good friends. She had not been able to hold a relationship together, and the reason was because […]

Part 7 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) Feelings Are Valid Couples communication tip number six is that emotions are not normally right or wrong. They just are. We are emotional beings. Everything we do, we do because it feels right to us or it feels wrong to us or it’s something […]

Part 6 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) Who has the Concern? Relationship communication tip number five is that we need to focus on the person who is having the concern whether that is you or whether that is them. If it’s you, you need to slow down and take the time, […]

Part 5 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) More Than One Perspective Tip number four would be that we need to watch out not to confront our mate with preset judgments or opinions that say they are wrong or at fault. There is more than one perspective on something and to automatically […]

Part 4 of 14 from Communication Essentials (continued from last week…) The Appropriate Time A third tip for building a great relationship and improving your communications is don’t bring up important issues during rushed, stressful or inappropriate times of day. Does that happen? Oh yes, but we need to slow down. If it’s important enough […]