6 Tips To Communicate Better With Your Partner

Use I statements - "I think…" "I feel…" "I experience…." rather than “you this and you that”, which will put your partner on the defense.

When you do need to express a frustration with you partner, make it about the behavior, not their character- such as “It frustrates me when there are dirty socks left on the floor” rather than “you’re such a slob”

Put  aside your own thoughts for a moment and keep you own emotions in check to "take a trip" into your partner's world and hear their perspective. Easier said than done, I know... that's the "active" part. It takes effort!

Open communication requires emotional safety. Eliminate negativity from your discussions and relationship in general. No shaming, blaming, or criticisms. If it feels negative to you partner, even if you did not mean it that way, treat it as a negative. That means figure out what happened and make amends.

Conflict is inevitable in relationships. Do not avoid it, because the issues will just keep coming back. Expect differences because you each have different perspectives, both just as valid and real as the other's. Then learn how to talk it out, owning your part of the problem and better understanding your partner. Remember, the only one you can change is yourself, so use the dialogue to figure out what and how you need to grow.

Don’t forget to say the good stuff out loud… Too often all we talk about is problems. But it’s the positives in a relationship which give it the strength to get through the struggles. Express appreciations to your partner each and every day- make it a habit!