- 1). Make time to discuss feelings, even if that means working it in while taking a walk together to get in exercise or while doing housework or shopping. Busy work schedules, children and social engagements can make it difficult for married couples to find time to talk. However, it’s of high importance to carve time out of busy schedules in order to handle relationship problems. Keep the lines of communication open in the hope of preventing future problems.
- 2). Listen intently to what the other person is saying and respond to what was said once the person is done speaking. This involves much more than simply being present and hearing the other person’s words; good listening also includes body language. Make eye contact, avoid negative facial reactions and turn toward the speaker to show that you're interested in what is being said.
- 3). Picture how it would feel to be in the other person’s shoes. While a husband and wife may be at opposite ends of the spectrum on a certain problem, imagining how the other person must feel will help each person to understand the other's point of view.
- 4). Avoid trying to fix the problem that the other person is struggling with. More often than not, people don’t want to be given a solution to a problem. Instead, they simply want to talk it out and get their feelings off their chest in order to work toward a solution on their own.
- 5). Sit down together as soon as a fight starts to brim. It can be tempting to jump right into an argument, especially if it’s one that’s arisen several times before. However, calmly taking a seat will give both people a chance to cool down before speaking, and nipping the anger in the bud may shorten the length of the argument.
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