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Conflict in a relationship is virtually inevitable.
What Does Healthy Communication Look Like?
Healthy communication is the effective exchange of thoughts and feelings between people.
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It often involves people taking turns speaking and listening.
Ideally, when you engage in healthy communication, the people involved are devoted to the exchange.
Both people are aware of how they are acting during the conversation.
The Importance of Healthy Communication
Healthy communication is crucial for sustaining long-term relationships.
One study found that effective communication increased relationship satisfaction for couples.Healthy communication canincrease intimacyin relationships as well.
The way you and your partner communicate with each other often determines how you resolve conflicts.
If you use healthy methods of communicating, you are likely to find common ground even during a disagreement.
This can help strengthen your relationship over time.
Of course, the healthiest way of communicating varies based on the situation.
Stay Focused
Sometimes its tempting to bring up past seemingly related conflicts when dealing with current ones.
It might make the whole discussion more taxing and even confusing.
Practicingmindfulness meditationcan help you to learn to be more present in all areas of your life, including communication.
take a stab at notice if you do that the next time you’re in a discussion.
Truly effective communication goes both ways.
While it might be difficult, tryreally listeningto what your partner is saying.
Just hear them andreflect backwhat theyre saying so they know youve heard.
Through this exercise, youll understand them better and theyll be more willing to listen to you.
Click below to listen now.
We talk a lot about our point of view to get the other person to see things our way.
give a shot to really see the other side, and then you might better explain yours.
(If you don’t “get it,” ask more questions until you do.)
Others will more likely be willing to listen if they feel heard.
Also, look for whats true in what theyre saying; that can be valuable information for you.
Own Whats Yours
Personal responsibility is a strength, not a weakness.
Effective communication involvesadmitting when youre wrong.
It diffuses the situation, sets a good example, and shows maturity.
This focus is much more effective than one person getting what they want at the others expense.
Healthy communication involvesfinding a resolutionthat both sides can be happy with.
Sometimes good communication means knowing when to take a break.
Unless its time togive up on the relationship, dont give up on communication.
Couples counselingorfamily therapycan provide help with altercations and teach skills to resolve future conflict.
you could also use apps like Happy Couple to improve your relationship and help you understandlost feelings of love.
This can lead to misunderstandings, and it doesn’t let your partner respond in the moment.
Try not to do other things while you’re on the phone with your partner.
Staying present and honoring your time together will go a long way in making the other person feel valued.
Treat a video call as you would an in-person conversation.
Try not to hang up on your partner if they’re saying something you don’t want to hear.
Agree that you’ll both hear each other out.
But don’t leave your partner hanging.
Try picking the next time you’ll have a phone call or video call before hanging up.
This can remind you that you still care about and support each other.
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