We are inundated with article after article on how to improve ones appearance and sex appeal. We spend thousands of dollars on cosmetics and apparel in hopes of maintaining our love relationships. All of these marketed tools are very effective but relationships continue to dissolve at astronomical rates. In over 10 years of clinical practice, I have looked at relationships gone south and relationships that are truly happy. I am continually amazed by the secrets of success that clients report to me repeatedly.
Communication is a complex exercise of talking and listening in a reciprocal fashion.
Without both components, communication is ineffective. The trick to communicating is being sure to communicate one's thoughts and feelings in a way that your listener is not put on the defensive, and to actively encourage participation in the communication process. Time is required to think before we speak and it must be done on a frequent enough basis so that we communicate before we feel angry or simply explode. The first step in opening the doors of relationship communication is to set aside special time on a weekly basis to communicate with the significant people in your life. This is important, to allow private time away from the distractions of children or home chores.