The key to maintaining healthy relationships is to learn how to communicate well with others. Most people are unaware that they aren’t communicating as well as they think they are. Using mindful awareness you can start to notice and understand what’s really being communicated more often. When you communicate, it isn’t just about expressing how you feel. It’s about being able to listen carefully to and understand the other person as well. Relationship problems at work or at home can be very stressful. So it’s important that you learn to communicate effectively with those whom you have relationship problems with. Read on to learn more about how to develop your communication skills to help you improve your relationships.
It’s important to understand that problems often arise when no one in the relationship is listening. Many people complain about not being listened to, and that’s where the conflict starts. Most employees wish that their boss or colleagues would hear them out. This 
makes them feel respected and recognised. At home, people wish that their family would listen and appreciate what they have to say.
There are so many people out there who just wish they could be simply be listened to. They long to be recognised, instead of having others always taking charge of things and not taking their needs into consideration.
Parents often wish their kids would turn off their gadgets, and simply have a decent conversation. Some kids also wish their parents would spend more time listening to them, instead of always being busy with work or other things.
Listening is a 2-way street. In order to communicate effectively, both people in the relationship need to listen to each other. When you listen, make sure that you pay close attention and suspend any judgments or urges to butt-in. Try giving the other person a chance to express their feelings or thoughts before you share your opinion. And then ask them to clarify what they’ve said before you make assumptions.
Whenever you have a conversation with others, aim to listen more carefully, instead of planning ahead about what you’re going to say. When someone else is talking, listen carefully and don’t say anything. This includes not taking to yourself on the inside of your head. Focus your attention wholly on what they have to say. Be aware of their words, tone of their voice and their emotions while they’re talking. You can ask questions at the end to help you understand their point better.
Without good communication, there’ll be a higher chance for both you and the other person in the relationship to make false assumptions. You might think that you’re right. However, assumptions are often based on incomplete information and unconscious thoughts or feelings.
Many people become unhappy as a result of making false assumptions about others. This is especially true whenever there’s a heated argument between two people. Anger can cloud your head with negative thoughts and can cause stress. This can lead to an even bigger rift in the relationship. So, it’s better to ask the other person to clarify their point, instead of believing your own assumptions.
There will always be challenges in your relationships along the way, but keep in mind that there’s always a solution to every problem. Using mindfulness skills you’ll become more aware of when those challenges arise. From this postion of awareness you can then find ways to improve your communicating and listening skills. This can go a long way in helping you bridge the gap in your relationships. Having the ability to communicate and listen effectively are essential skills to learn if you want your relationships with others to be great. Nobody else can improve your relationships for you, so enjoy learning to improve these skills and see how much better your life becomes.
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