Any couple who wants to have a strong and loving relationship knows how important communication is. Although we are aware that good communication skills is the major single factor which decides the kind of relationships we build with others, a lot of us are still quite clueless about what it really is. Most couples complain about not communicating, but what really happens is that that they are no longer heard, acknowledged and given due importance by their partner. There is still communication; however, it is not made through love and kindness, but through antagonism, silence, evasion and many other negative attitudes.

There are many forms of communication, and good communication is just one of them. A person must have better understanding of oneself in order to understand one’s partner better. With understanding, one becomes more acquainted with one’s communicating techniques, as well as the other person’s, in order to work better as a team. Better communication is achieved not just by talking and hearing. Here are the ways in order to get the best out of any relationship through good communication: It is normal for a couple to have disagreements and conflicts every now and then. Arguments can be healthy; however, people tend to point fingers when things are not as smooth-sailing as they should be.

Sure, every person has his/her own faults, but there is no good out of blaming each other every time a problem arises. It is important to be able to take responsibility in re-evaluating one’s own actions and communication first, before pointing anything out in one’s partner. People often have a harder time accepting criticisms because no one wants to be wrong. However, communication is not about being right or wrong—it is about helping each other be more considerate of one another’s point of view, in order to avoid further misunderstandings and conflicts. The battle of the sexes is an age-old game that many couples play.

There is always a need to prove that one sex is far more superior to the other, so winning becomes rather important even in the communication process. It is a sad but ironic situation when a couple feels that communicating with each other is futile, when it is actually the main key to a healthy relationship. However, this is unavoidable because of the way many couples communicate; instead of reaching a level of understanding of each other’s wants and needs, most people make being right the whole point of the argument. Listening sounds like a very easy thing to do, but a lot of people actually fail to understand what it really is and often confuse it with hearing.

When a person listens, he/she is truly enthusiastic and interested in what the other person is saying. Although it is essential to hear out one’s partner, it is nothing if no effort is made to have an emotional connection with the other person. Listening is a skill which entails both in order to accomplish your relationship aspirations together. Sustaining a happy and healthy relationship is not that complex—couples just have to try to be open, sincere, non-judgemental and patient in communicating with each other.