How to Use Active Listening to Improve Your Relationship Communication
Relationship Communication Guide
As we continue talking about relationships and ways to improve your communication, I have a FREE Relationship Communication Guide you can download today to help kick-start your progress! In this guide, I give you my best relationship communication tips, suggestions and activities you can start to implement right away!
Click the button below to get access to my Relationship Communication Guide and start improving your relationship communication today!
Fixing Your Relationship Communication
A few weeks ago, I shared with you my Relationship Communication Checklist, and I want to continue expanding on that idea with some other communication tips this week.
Relationship communication doesn’t have to be complicated, but so often it feels like it is. Over the years I have found that so often my clients struggle to have conversations about the things that really matter to them.
If this applies to you, I would ask you to start thinking of whether you are being honest with yourself and with your partner about the things that really need to be discussed in your relationship.
Having a courageous conversation can feel scary, but it’s also the only way I know to take communication to the next level and to allow you to feel more and more connected to your partner!
Courageous Conversation
Courageous conversation is the process that leads to authentic communication and it is one of the keys to creating successful relationships. When I talk about having courageous conversations, I'm really talking about the importance of being able to have deep conversations about the things that really matter to you with those people who really matter to you.
How to Know if You’re Having Courageous Conversation in Your Relationship
Use this checklist to help determine if you’re having courageous conversations in your relationship.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Are you able to talk about the things that matter to you?
Are there topics you'd like to discuss but hold back?
Do you feel like you have more superficial or deep conversations in your relationship?
Do you feel like your conversations are balanced or one-sided?
Do you feel heard when you speak or voice concerns or problems with your significant other?
Does it feel like your opinions are respected?
How do things happen when you have a disagreement? Is the ability to agree to disagree a possibility?
Active Listening is a great way to connect to your spouse. As a therapist, I talk with couples about how to improve their communication, and Active Listening is one of the best ways. Here are some tips for you to remember.
What is Active Listening?
One major component of courageous conversation in relationships is the ability to use active listening skills when communicating. I get so many questions about what this actually means, so I thought it could be helpful to offer a bit more insight into what it is and how to use it.
Helpful questions to ask yourself to determine if you’re using active listening in your relationship:
When your significant other is talking, are actively engaged in actually listening to what they are saying and the message they are trying to convey?
When your significant other is talking, are you just waiting for them to shut up, so you can talk and say what you want to say?
After your significant other has finished telling you what's on their mind, do you take time to reflect back to them what you're hearing them say in order to ensure they feel heard and listened to?
Active listening is a communication tool that encourages couples or partners to listen actively to what their spouse is saying. Do you know how to actively listen when your significant other is talking to you? There are three questions that you need to ask yourself in order to be sure you are actively listening.
Reasons for Communication Breakdowns
Although the idea of incorporating courageous conversation and active listening into your relationship communication sounds simple in theory, the lack of these two things are some of the most common reasons communication breaks down in relationships.
Learning how to communicate in a healthy and effective way is such an important step when trying to improve your relationship. I love helping couples figure out how to improve their communication patterns, and it is the foundation we start building in my Relationship Communication Workshop and in my 1:1 work with clients.
The ability to communicate with your partner is a crucial part of any healthy relationship. But how can you communicate with your partner in a way that makes you both feel heard? Take a look at this article on tips to improve your communication with your partner.
Relationship Communication Workshop Updates
I have created an online Relationship Communication Workshop to help you dig into the communication struggles in your relationship and start getting things back on track. I have had a number of participants submit reviews and suggestions of different lessons that would be a great addition to the workshop. I want this to be as helpful as possible, so I have decided to listen to the feedback and expand the course to include even more relationship guidance.
There is an entire section that will be devoted to understanding even more about the love languages. I will also be providing you with more details into how to manage them in relationships.
I realize that not everyone wants to go through long-term therapy or the process of getting to a therapy appointment may not fit into your busy schedule. That's why I created this course. I wanted to provide you with a way to get access to the tools my clients get from me in my practice, but you can access the material from the comfort of your own home or wherever you are.
Download the FREE Relationship Communication Guide by clicking the button below, and you’ll be the first to know about the relaunch of my Relationship Communication Workshop!!!
1:1 Coaching Appointments Now Available
I am now offering a 1:1 coaching sessions for individuals as well as couples. If you would like to set up a 1:1 coaching video session to help you start working on your relationship, you can click here.
You get to decide how many minutes you’d like to purchase worth of coaching. Then, I’ll reach out to you in order to make the determination of how you’d like to use your time. We will decide how to split up your time in 30-minute increments up to the total amount you select.
Also, notice that the more time you purchase upfront, the more you save!
Follow Me On Social Media
You can follow me all over social media for more life and relationship tips.
I can be found on Facebook where I do many live streams as well as post during the week.
I can be followed on Instagram and in addition to posts on my feed, I am always in my stories posting help tips, tricks and ideas.
I’m on Pinterest throughout the day posting tons of life and relationship tips!
I’ve recently started using TikTok where I post helpful videos in 60 seconds or less with info you can apply to your life immediately.
I’ve also recently joined Clubhouse, so if you have an iPhone or and iPad, you can find me on the platform by searching for @lindsay.walden
