Communication

There are the times where everything is hunky-dory and then…well, the other times, right? You and your partner can blow through your days with nothing but laughter and love but every now and then, you’ll hit a wall with brute force and wonder how you’re going to make it through. I wanted to send along a little conflict resolution advice that you can either take or leave but it’s served me well thus far. Perhaps it’ll serve you, too!

Don’t Yell. Yelling doesn’t do anyone any good. While occasionally, you need to get something off your chest, yelling (as a rule of thumb) only puts the other person on the defensive. And that means they’re going to “turn up the volume,” too! Having a conversation instead of a yelling match will go miles towards a mutually agreeable resolution. Yelling will only bring you closer to buying a year’s supply of ear plugs.

Count to Ten. We all say things we don’t mean. Occasionally, we even mean the mean things we say. To avoid saying things we all wish we could take back, try counting to ten before you let the words fly. Sometimes what you were going to say becomes less important. Sometimes you even think of something more productive to say. Other times, you decide to say nothing at all. It’s amazing what ten little numbers can do to save our hearts and relationships, isn’t it?

The good times with someone you’re dating are always good. But what about when you just seem to hit a wall or your perfect partner does something that’s not-so-perfect? Having an open line of communication in your relationship will not only help keep the air clear but pave the way for a relationship filled with affection instead of pent-up angst. Here are some tips to help you navigate the rougher waters with your partner.

Count to ten…or three days. The moral being, don’t be reactionary and a hot head. If your partner does something that upsets you or just doesn’t sit well with your better sensibilities, give yourself a few minutes (or even a few days) to think about why that upset you. When you’re ready to talk, it’s likely you’ll be able to have a much calmer conversation driven by reason than emotion.