You’ve heard it a thousand times before, to the point where it sounds like a cliché: communication is key. However, there’s a reason that we’ve all heard that expression many times before: because it’s true.
Good communication is the backbone of every human relationship, and knowing how to effectively communicate your needs, and hear the needs of others being communicated back to you, is essential for the health of your marriage, along with all the other important interpersonal and business relationships you form in life.
Before you are married, while you are just getting to know your partner, establishing good communication is a vital part of growing together and strengthening your bond. Think of a new relationship as a sapling tree- it is vulnerable and in need of nurturing and protection to be able to grow big and put down strong, deep roots. By making sure that you and your partner are communicating effectively from the very beginning, those roots can take hold, giving your partnership a solid foundation.
During your marriage, communication becomes even more important, though it can also become more difficult to maintain. Once children come along, it gets harder to find the time to communicate with your spouse, which can lead to hurt feelings, resentment, and a feeling of distance. Making it a point to communicate your needs to one another in a healthy, open way can help keep your marriage grounded and alleviate any worries, suspicion, or doubts that have a way of creeping in over the years. It can also do wonders for helping you to remember who you married, why you love them, and how important they are to you. Being able to talk to one another honestly and freely can help avoid the breakdown in communication that can lead to a breakdown of the marriage.
Despite your best efforts at communicating, you may still find yourselves agreeing to end your marriage. If that is the case, it is still important to make an effort to communicate effectively and responsibly with one another during and after your uncontested divorce. This is especially true if you have children together, as you will need to be able to use good communication practices in order to effectively co-parent. Using good communication can also help you to move on from the pain and stress caused by the end of your marriage, as it allows you to be open and honest about your feelings and needs, giving your ex-spouse an opportunity to meet them.
Throughout your life, good communication skills can come in very handy in your personal and work relationships. By working on how you communicate, you can help to make sure that you are being clearly understood and identifying your needs, as well as working to meet others halfway. Mastering the art of good communication can help improve the quality of your marriage, or your divorce, along with every other relationship in your life!
