How to Communicate in a Relationship

♥ Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships.
― Stephen R. Covey

In this fast-moving life, people often tend to take things for granted and conveniently come up with excuses of work and time to camouflage such actions. Lack of communication often leads to misunderstandings and afflictions. Especially, in case of couples, it often gives way to estrangements and even splits.

There are different modes of communication these days, but the best way to do it is face to face. When you look deep into your partner's eyes and convey your feelings, there's nothing like it! But, this becomes a substantial problem in case of long distance relationships. So, let's consider some general effective ways of communication.

♥ There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip,
Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
― Shakespeare

Try to comprehend how your partner wants to convey. You both must share a comfortable level of compatibility. If you are very outspoken and articulate, you should find out if your partner is comfortable with such a gesture. It often happens that people express their thoughts and emotions the way they want to.

They fail to give space to their partners just because their ways of expressing things are different. Thus, to sum it up, understand the nature of your partner, and strike a balance of compatibility to communicate well.

♥ The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands.
― Benjamin Franklin

Eye contact is an important foundation for every communication. When you look into your partner's eyes and express your thoughts, it reflects honesty, sincerity, and love. You should also take care of your body language. Don't make any boorish gestures, as it might just turn your partner off, proroguing the conversation.

Avoid being sarcastic while speaking to your spouse or partner. Sit and discuss properly, and don't be defensive. Don't use your sentiments as weapons. It will just worsen your relationship in the course of time. Be practical and sensible. Even if you are hurt, narrate and divulge your feelings in the right manner. Be open and just talk it out.

♥ Good communication does not mean that you have to speak in perfectly formed sentences and paragraphs. It isn't about slickness. Simple and clear go a long way.
― John Kotter

Convey what you want to. Don't be ambiguous or murky. Be open and transparent, and convey exactly what you want to say. If it is a serious issue, then plan well before you talk to your partner. A refreshing and ace manner can work wonders.

Also, ensure that you select the right time to talk. If there's a tiff going on between the two of you, then convey the best message you have in store without being skeptical.

♥ Assumptions are the termites of relationships.
― Henry Winkler

As the saying goes, assumptions are indeed very malignant and make situations precarious in relationships. Lack of communication in kinships leads to assumptions. Since our brains are free to think, it can assume anything and everything. So, the best solution is to communicate well and leave no room for assumptions and confusions.

♥ What else is soul but a listener?
― William Gass

Be the soul of your partner, and listen to him/her as if you are the 'sole' listener. If you really want to communicate effectively in a relationship, focus more on listening to what your partner wants to convey. People often think that they are putting across their views by blabbering a lot and conveying everything they wish to. But, it is not so.

Communication in a kinship has to be interactive. The more you listen to your partner, the better is the understanding. Be patient and attentive while listening. If required, interact after listening. This will strengthen your kinship and in turn build a lot of trust.

As Ronan Keating's song couches, "You say it best when you say nothing at all", communication need not be through words or texts every time. Those little gestures and glances are an intrinsic part of your communication. Even your way of touching reflects your mood. So, embolden your love life with all the little special things, which make you both happy.

Here are some basic tips on how to communicate better in a relationship:

• Ascertain to blend both yours and your partner's sense of humor well. That helps to hold the interest and zeal.
• Hold your partner's hand gently, or just brush your fingers through his/her hair while talking. It will just add a spark to the conversation.

• Bring up some good, old, and relevant memories to add to it.
• Do not forget to add pertinent phrases of appreciation for your partner, and tell him/her about what makes him/her different from others.

• Try to acclimatize in a way to make your partner comfortable. This will, in turn, increase your compatibility.
• Even if you have busy lives, you can stay in touch through emails, texts, or just spare some time to call your partner.

♥ The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
― Lady Dorothy Nevill

When we talk about communicating in a relationship, we often overlook our basic instincts. Many books and general communication exercises are available for couples. But, theories are best when implemented! So, be honest and give it a shot. But, don't be too pushy. Give the required amount of space to your partner. Communicate and 'stay connected' forever!