Guide To Healthy Communication In a Relationship

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Effective communication is the cornerstone of a thriving and fulfilling relationship. It serves as the bridge that connects individuals on a deep and meaningful level, fostering understanding, intimacy, and trust. In this guide, we will explore the essential elements of healthy communication in a relationship, encompassing both verbal and non-verbal aspects. Whether you are navigating the early stages of a partnership or seeking to enhance the connection in a long-term commitment, the insights provided here aim to empower you with practical tips and valuable strategies. By cultivating strong communication skills, you can create a supportive and harmonious environment that strengthens the foundation of your relationship and allows it to flourish. Let’s embark on this journey to discover the keys to fostering open, respectful, and enriching communication in the context of your unique relationship

While intimacy is undeniably a vital component of a healthy relationship, communication stands as its needed equal. Intimacy creates physical and emotional closeness to one another. However, it is through communication that this connection is nurtured, sustained, and deepened. Being able to communicate healthily in a relationship lays the foundation on which trust is built, allowing both partners to feel heard and valued. Creating a safe space where both partners can express their desires, concerns, and vulnerabilities.

To have your physical intimacy flourish there needs to be a healthy communication foundation to pave the way for a successful and nurturing relationship.

Without healthy communication your relationship shall crack and crumble, you cannot have a successful relationship without healthy communication and I have just the tips and tricks to guide you.

Guide to healthy communication in a relationship

Relationships are hard work. I am proud to say I have shared five great years and counting with my high school sweetheart and our on our way to the alter in five short months, however, we would not have gotten this far if it wasn’t for our great communication with one another.

Don’t get me wrong we didn’t just start right off the bat at seventeen years old having all the knowledge and wisdom to communicate effectively. No, it was hard work and still is work that we choose to put our effort into every day because we saw what our relationship could be without great communication, and let me tell you it wasn’t something we wanted at all.

You will see great accomplishments come out of your dedication to one another and your relationship if you choose to focus on your communication. You will even see your intimacy flourish because you cannot have intimacy without communication in a relationship. While intimacy may spark the flame, communication is the steady fuel that keeps the flame burning bright, sustaining the warmth and vitality of a thriving relationship

Below you will find tips and tricks to help guide you on your path to strengthening your communication. Do proceed with an open heart and mind and with a wanting to make your relationship stronger. Because if you do not want to improve your communication together then you simply will not!

Why is communication so important?

Creating healthy communication in a relationship is work, but it is one of the greatest rewards you could ever put your effort into. And let me tell you the hard work pays off.

Communication in a relationship is the framework of building strong connections and expressing your wants and needs. Without effective communication your partner may get the wrong idea from something you said or maybe they are putting off a strong “don’t come near me” body language without even knowing it because you don’t communicate with them how it affects you.

You see communication is everywhere in your relationship it’s not only within the words spoken but the unspoken tells of crossed arms or eye rolls that can say more than words sometimes.

Without healthy communication, your relationship will begin to decline. Resentment and blame can occur as well as low self-worth all from not feeling that you are heard and validated.

Communication is both verbal and non-verbal and is key to creating a long-lasting healthy relationship.

Examples of healthy communication

Like I mentioned above communication is not only speaking words but it is in your body language as well.

Examples of healthy communication are active listening, body language, tone of voice, using I statements, acknowledging when wrong, and expressing empathy, make compromising a goal.

Active listening

To listen actively means to be engaged in the conversation such as with a head nod or a mmhmm to let your partner know they are being heard. As well as how your body language is coming across such as inviting instead of closed. No cell phones should be involved to be fully engaged and following up with a question and good eye contact also expresses you are fully engaged in the conversation.

Body language

Having an inviting body language can make all the difference when communicating especially if you are in a quarrel. Sharing a smile and an arm touch are ways your partner can know you are demonstrating affectionate body language. Do not lean away from your partner or have your arms and legs crossed this is a way to show non-inviting body language which is the opposite of what we want to accomplish.

Tone of voice

Now I don’t think this needs to be explained but I will just in case. Your tone of voice can express a great deal of love or hurt. Not only is the volume of the words coming out important but the way they are said. Are conversations being done with an affectionate tone or a nagging and sassy tone, something to think about? Your tone of voice is also expressed through your body language, and facial expressions set a mental note aside to be more mindful of your expressions in your next conversation.

Using “I” Statements

This is not to mean that you are the center of the conversation but instead take the blame off your partner when expressing your needs. For example, if you want your partner to help out more around the house instead of saying something like “You never help me around the house I have to do everything by myself”. You could use an I statement and take the blame off by wording it like this ” I have been swamped at work lately and with the kids and I could use a little extra hand around the house to take some stress off of my shoulders”. That way take the blame off of your partner and instead express your needs and wants in a healthy way. Now taking the healthy communication further your partner would need to express active listening and empathy.

Acknowledging when wrong

Knowing when you are wrong and expressing that is important is all aspects of your life but especially so in a relationship. Being able to come to your partner and say you messed up is a huge step in not only trusting your partner but also communicating your shame and fears. It takes a loving and trusting environment to be able to step up and acknowledge you are at fault and apologize. Being able to do this will greatly affect your relationship if none of you acknowledge you are at fault even if both of you say you were equally at fault your relationship cannot grow and get stronger.

Expressing empathy

This is super important in communication for it allows you to put yourself in your partner’s shoes and better understand where they are coming from. Understanding their side of things more and why they said or did something can allow you to maybe not be quick to anger as much or maybe allow you to not get self-conscious when they say something because they are speaking from a different perspective. Empathy allows you to hear each other’s needs and wants without any selfishness attached.

compromising

Ahh the big compromising. I don’t know why it sounds so scary and silly to some. You should always aim to compromise in a relationship. This allows both of you to have an end goal of making the other happy. If you are always striving to get what you want your relationship with crack and your partner will start to resent you and will not feel they are in a safe and trusting space if they never feel heard and validated. It takes some work but try the next altercation you have to see an end goal where you both get what you want.

Tips for healthy communication

Set healthy boundaries

Example, set boundaries for being on your cell phones while having a conversation or at the dinner table. Maybe only at the dinner table they are not allowed but while in bed they are.

Check-ins

Check in daily with your partner on plans and schedules that are happening or even better schedule a weekly meeting where you sit down and talk about your relationship and get everything out of the table. This could mean talking about your feelings, your in-bed life, your appointments coming out anything and everything to ensure you both are being heard, validated, and are on the same page. Maybe set aside time Sunday morning while you both drink your coffee.. idk it could be any time that will work for BOTH of you distraction-free.

Practice empathy

Empathy is something that can grow and strengthen over time with some practice and mindfulness. A great way to build upon this skill is to be more mindful in your conversations and your daily life of what is going around you and how you are responding. Seek to listen to truly hear the other person not to just respond.

I hope all of these tips greatly help you and your partner. Relationships and communicating effectively is work but is damn true that is will be one of the most rewarding accomplishments you ever put your whole heart and body into. Your relationship is like a garden and to have a fully flourishing beautiful garden you need to prune and pick out the weeds that are overcrowding your flowers. The lack of proper communication is a weed that if not tended to will take over your garden and attack your flowers and they will wilt!

Thank you for reading please come to me with any thoughts, concerns, and questions!

I wish you all the love and happiness!

Love, Miranda ❤️️