If your conversations have been escalating to major conflicts in your relationship, you are not alone
My husband and I struggled a lot with communication and conflict in our marriage so when I teach communication and conflict, I know what I’m teaching because we had to do the work to be where we are now. Now we have better communication and know how to navigate our conversations to become productive and less destructive
Here are a few reasons I have identified as why couples struggle with effective communication:
YOU MAY BE RIGHT BUT YOUR TONE IS NOT RIGHT
The way you say it will either make your conversation escalate into a major conflict or give room for effective communication and understanding
YOU BOTH CAN BE RIGHT AND HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
If you focus on proving who is right or wrong, you will end up in a tussle with each other without any resolve.
The focus should be hearing each other out, an understanding of the two different perspectives and finding a solution or agreement
YOUR FEELINGS ARE VALID BUT YOU MAY BE PRESENTING THEM AS FACTS
Feelings are valid but they may not be facts. Being able to differentiate this and communicate it will prevent misunderstandings, defensiveness and escalations
YOUR PARTNER IS COMMUNICATING A FEELING BUT YOU ARE INSISTING ON A LOGICAL EXPLANATION
Men struggle in this area with their wives. Just because you don’t understand the feeling doesn’t mean it’s not valid or important.
THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT THE COMMUNICATION BUT THE UNDERLYING FEELINGS OF NOT “FEELING LOVED” & FEELING DISCONNECTED
When your love tank is low and you don’t feel connected, even a seemingly little conversation will lead to a major conflict. You must address the underlying cause first
Also, while we all know communication is vital, it’s not as simple as it sounds, it requires skill and practice.
More importantly, in marriage, it requires emotional safety. When couples are disconnected, it’s hard to have a seemingly small conversation
To further help you with communication and reconnection, these two resources below have been a game changer for my clients:
GET THE 3C’S GUIDE
I have broken down the tools and strategies I use in my sessions and that has worked for us and several other couples in The 3Cs Guide!
It’s what you need to have effective communication that reduces escalations and aids better conflicts…especially if you don’t want to sit in front of a counselor.
The guide works whether you are married or in a committed dating relationship. Get The 3C’s Guide here.
👉 Sign up for THE 30-DAY COUPLES RECONNECTING CHALLENGE. The next challenge starts May 1st – If you can do it for 30 days, you can hang onto it even after.