Couples Communications Tips

Individuals often ask about how to communicate more effectively in their relationships with family, especially their partners.  All it takes to decrease stress in relationships is the willingness to apply these tips described by my colleague, Donne Davis, founder of the GaGa Sisterhood, a group where Grandmas brag, bond and benefit. See which ones at which you excel!  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donne-davis/communicate-with-spouse_b_4759885.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp#sb=3720191b=facebook      

Relationship Nurturance

Imagine this...

Your wife and you have just arrived home after an intense day at work where nothing went well.  Your boss assigned you another stressful project, and your wife mentions there's going to be another round of layoffs.  What happens next?

You head to freezer to grab a frozen pizza and then go turn on the ESPN channel.

You take a very deep breath, give your wife a big hug, take her computer bag, set it down and lead her over to the sofa and say, "Honey, what do you need?  How can I best support you?"

This is relationship nurturance at its best.  Are you up for it?

Positive Communication

Do you notice how you communicate with yourself?\
  
"You'll never get this project finished on time."  
"Your boss is going to find out you don't know what you're doing."
"You're going to get a poor performance review if you don't figure things out!"  

Would you say some of these remarks to a friend and expect to keep the friendship?  Of course not!  Challenge yourself this week to catch yourself when you make self-critical statements and change them to encouraging comments.  You'll be amazed at how much more confident you'll feel!