Love is great to have, but not enough to maintain a healthy and successful relationship. Communication is the essence of a good relationship and poor communication can destroy one.
Most of the time, couples only realize the communication problem when it’s already too late. Too late means that they end up not being able to resolve the issue. Too late means that the only solution is for them to go separate ways. This is a harsh reality but I know almost all of us have experienced this. I did, and I learned from it.
Always be keen in observing the warning signs. It helps a lot when the couple recognizes a problem with communication at an early stage.
- Do you and your significant other take time to talk to each other at the end of a long day at work?
- When you face a problem, is your partner the first person you talk to?
- During an argument, do you give your significant other a chance to talk?
- Do you ever feel the need of hiding things from your partner due to lack of trust or fear of getting a negative response?
- Do your arguments end up being vulgar and offensive?
- Do you ever consider not bringing up your concerns just to avoid arguments?
These questions will help you assess the level of communication in your relationship. Fortunately, resolving communication problems is easy though it might not happen overnight. It is an ongoing process and a two-way street that you and your significant other should work on. Both partners should be willing to develop their communication skills in order to establish and preserve a loving and respectful relationship.
In the next few articles, I will cover each of these warning signs in greater depth, and provide specific actions you can take that will improve the quality of your communication, and achieve a more fulfilling relationship.
