Strengthening marital communication

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Communication is key to every relationship. It’s one way of servicing relationships. When communication link is cut, the relationship gets endangered. Through communication, you reach out to your spouse on your likes and dislikes. When it’s cut off, it makes the survival of the relationship difficult. It is assumed that someone else is taking your space.

When communication is lost, the redemption of the relationship is gone. That’s why you see a spouse running away from his or her partner. It’s the easiest way of saying, “I am done with you in this relationship.”

Communication involves speech, body language, giving attitude to your spouse, writing letters or sending messages, and eye contact.

What you communicate about

Your hurts: Don’t die in silence. Don’t make it difficult for your spouse to speak his or her mind to you, on all issues. Nothing should be “no go area” for you or your spouse in the marriage.

Some persons keep quiet about what they are going through in the marriage, instead of talking to their spouses about it. They don’t want to be misunderstood by them, or offend them. This is wrong and should be jettisoned by all means.

Your sex life: My husband and I once held a conference during which a couple married for over forty years said they had never discussed sex in their marriage. They just rolled by with whatever their experiences were in bed. This is wrong. You should communicate your likes and dislikes about sex to your spouse. Don’t just struggle in silence about your sexual feelings. You should let your spouse know if you are being satisfied in bed or not. Doing so helps you to enjoy a great sex life in your marriage.

Your health status: We lost a senior friend last year to cancer, and it was shocking to know that his wife never got to know about his ill health until it was too late. Couples should not hide their health status from one another. It speaks volume on your trust and care for each other, when you confide in your spouse about your health status. Men are the more prone to hiding their health status, all in the name of being a “real man” in the marriage. This is an egoistic attitude.

Finance: A man died and his wife never knew even his phone codes, such that the family could not access his financial information. Some people are neck deep in debts, and their spouses don’t know about it. Many properties, bank accounts, and investments are wasting away because their spouses don’t have the information about them. This is not good at all. Keeping such secrets from your spouse is not communicating love and trust to him or her. It makes them feel unloved in the marriage.

Your temptations: You should communicate your temptations to your spouse. This will strengthen your relationship. I also know that there are spouses who could feel threatened by such, but it is still right to share such information with him or her with wisdom. I have people who contact me through the intimacy column for relationship. I turn them down and bring it to my husband’s notice. He doesn’t feel threatened, but makes us to be watchful and never lower our guard to protect each other.

Your dreams and visions: There should be no ambiguity about what you are engaged in or wants to do in the future, with your spouse. It should be well spelt out so that both of you can work together for it. It’s essential if you want to have his or her maximum support for it.

Threats to communication

Usually spouses find it difficult communicating with each other for a few reasons. Some are cowed into silence by a few attitudes of their partners. This should be looked into if the marriage will not break down.

I don›t care attitude: When your spouse’s complaints are not attended to, you are going to get him or her to close up, thus ruining the communication between you. You should care about whatever issues he or she raises with you, and address same.

Taking issues discussed for: Don’t explain issues away when raised. Don’t take it for granted that he or she can’t do anything about it. You may be leading him or her into withdrawal mode.

Constantly postponing discussions: I’m in the middle of something now. We can discuss it later today. I’m tired, honey, let’s do it tomorrow.

Lack of listening ear: You only issue command, without being ready to hear your spouse out.

Threatening comments: Comments like “I will deal with you,” “don’t ever raise that issue with me again,” “You can opt out if you can’t cope with me “etc are things you do to put your marital communication in jeopardy.

Know it all attitude: When you constantly present a picture of having knowledge of everything, you will cause your spouse to stop talking to you on so many issues. Stop giving him or her the impression that you don’t need contributions or advice from him or her.

Shutting down your spouse: Anytime he or she raises an issue with you, you just get angry, and shout at him or her. It’s like you hate hearing his or her voice. It could be that your mind is made up on the issues involved, so you don’t want to hear anything from him or her that will make you change your mind. No room for second opinion.

You have to take action before it is too late when communication is being cut off. Signs that communication is fast being lost are being moody, mono syllables response, ignoring your comments, etc.

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