Studies show that a lack of communication is the number one reason couples break up or get divorced. Nagging is a major culprit — relentless reminders, suggestions and advice on how, when and why we should do things.
But what are some of the other bad communication habits that erode away at couples?
1. Being Inauthentic.
How many times do you catch yourself saying “yes” when you really mean “no?” Do you say, “I don’t know” for fear of being judged, dismissed or rejected? When we systematically accept things against our will, shut down to keep the peace and rationalize why that’s okay, we set ourselves up for resentment and anger down the line.
Covering up our feelings and not trusting our partner to be mature enough to manage their response to “no” just won’t work. It’s better to say, “No, I’m not available to discuss this right now. I need to unwind and think about it. I’ll be ready to talk about it in an hour.” Then keep your promise.
2. Incongruence.
Most of our communication is non-verbal, and when it’s out of sync with our words, we are sending mixed messages. No wonder couples argue, get frustrated and eventually tune each other out!
When we say one thing while rolling our eyes, tightening our lips and/or shrugging shoulders, we send another message, usually one of being dismissive, defensive and/or judgmental. One way to avoid this is to maintain eye contact. This ensures active listening and allows you to focus on what the other person is saying instead of considering what you are planning on saying next.
3. Win-lose attitude.
In the world of neuro-linguistic programming, we say that effective communication is when your message is not simply sent, but transmitted and received by the listener. When talking about uncomfortable subjects, it’s too easy to become judgmental, blaming and defensive — tactics that all lead to communication breaking down.
Read more: PsychCentral
