Wow! What a week of learning about communication. I must say I was truly blessed and I hope many of you were as well and was able to take away to points to improve your communication style.
Since effective communication is essential in any marriage to help with strengthening and building our marriage foundation, I wanted to end the series sharing 5 ways you can implement to effectively communicate with your spouse.
5 Ways to Communicate Effectively with your spouse
- Pick the Right Time: As the old saying goes: “There is a time and place for everything.” This goes for communicating especially when you must discuss difficult topics. Don’t try to discuss difficult and important topics when you are already arguing, tired, or distracted. Make sure the environment you are in is calm and stress-free.
- Stick to the issue at hand: Don’t bring up things that don’t pertain to what you are discussing at the present time. Things or actions of the past was discussed when they happened, so don’t continue to bring them up because that will cause communication to break down and you will lose sight of what you are discussing NOW. [pullquote]Remember: Whatever the disagreement was yesterday, last month, or last year don’t allow it to manifest into your daily communication (walk) with your spouse![/pullquote]
- Don’t Assume: Be specific in how you feel and what you would like to say. Just because you are talking with your spouse don’t think they will automatically know what you are trying to say. How you feel or what you want may not obvious to your spouse, so share in detail how you feel and what you need from your spouse.
- Be Respectful: When communicating with your spouse, ALWAYS be respectful. Don’t use derogatory words toward your spouse. Guard your mouth! Don’t allow your emotions to say shard things at your spouse or to tear down your spouse to others.
- Listen: When your spouse is talking, give them your undivided attention. This includes, not forming your own opinion or response while your spouse is talking. Once your spouse has stopped talking, repeat/paraphrase what you have heard. Stick to what they have said not what you (the listener) feels.
Overall, stop…breath…and pray! Remember effective communication is a bridge to bring together two different communication styles to achieve one healthy exchange of ideas and to become one with your spouse.
Which of the 5 suggested ways above, do you need to implement IMMEDIATELY?
I really hope you benefited from the Marriage Communication series. I would love to hear your thoughts and any recommendations on topics you would like to see us discuss.
Reconnect…Refresh…Renew Your Marriage!
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Candi says
I agree, its so different that just talking with a girlfriend. Their is a small window for us to communicate, because of our schedules.
George Levy says
These are great tips!
My wife Yvonne and I are publishing a piece on ILoveBeingHappilyMarried.com with tips on how to end an argument. I have to say, your communication series are a great resource and we will be posting a link to this article as part of recommended additional reading on that piece we are posting.
Thank you for publishing such valuable information to help marriages all around the world!
All the best,
George
Still Dating My Spouse says
George,
Thank you! I’m one of your silent followers. Love what you guys are doing.
Pamela
Gladys Diaz says
I just did a teleconference with Heart’s Desire Internaional & Laura Doyle a couple of weeks ago on communicating your feelings and desires purely this article is a perfect affirmation of what was shared, and i’ll be sharing the link with our followers!
I often say that “good communication” is not about how long or how often the conversation is. I feel that some of us — especially the ladies — are causing our husbands to fall into a “talk-induced coma”! 🙂 It’s how we communicate what needs to be said — respectfully focusing on our own feelings and thoughts, rather than casting shame or blame — that allows for the dance of communication to take place. Thank you for sharing this and for all you are doing to help create lasting marriages!
In Sweet Surrender,
Gladys