How to use Active Listening & Communication to Strengthen a Relationship
“Communication” is a word we hear all the time when talking about relationships. We are all told to communicate properly in order to maintain a healthy relationship. Many people believe they are communicating well, but are actually preparing what to say next while their partner is still speaking. Part of effective communication is learning to listen without preparing for a comeback. Mindfulness therapy helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and reactions in the moment.
Communication & Active Listening
Strong communication isn’t just about what you say, it’s about how well you listen. Effective communication comes down to two key skills:
Active Listening
Expressing present emotions, thoughts, & feelings
Active listening is the skill of putting yourself in the other persons’ shoes and simply trying to understand their position, without judging, interrupting, or planning your response. This involves mindfulness skills related to practicing being fully present in the current moment, without preparing for the future, or relating words to the past.
It’s just as important to stay connected to your own emotions. It may seem smart to rehearse what you want to say beforehand in order to prevent anger or anxiety. It is very important to be in touch with your own feelings as they arise, share them with your partner in the present moment, and have them react and meet your emotional needs, rather than rehearsing a script that blocks you from acknowledging your feelings in the present moment.
How Mindfulness Therapy for Couples can Help
Mindfulness therapy is centered around the core principle of learning to become more in touch with your present thoughts, feelings, emotions, and reactions, without judgment. You learn to notice your thoughts and reactions without immediately acting on them.
You may have been told various times to communicate with your partner in order to have a healthy relationship without ever actually learning to become more in touch with the present moment, your feelings, your partners’ feelings, and dealing with them as they arise to foster stronger emotional intimacy and trust. Mindfulness therapy can teach you lifelong skills you can practice on your own to become a more healthy and effective communicator.
You can Learn to Communicate without Accidental Neglect
Many unconscious processes, such as rehearsal, overthinking, preparing for outcomes, pattern recognition, etc., are normal human instincts that go overlooked when communicating with our significant others.
Becoming more in touch with your own feelings, reactions, thoughts, as well as learning to actively listen to others in an effective manner, are the steps required for proper communication in a relationship that does not accidentally neglect you or your partners’ emotions.
At Healing Voices Psychotherapy, we offer Mindfulness Therapy, as well as Couples Therapy, in Barrie, Bradford, Collingwood, and Newmarket, Ontario for individuals looking to become more in touch with their feelings in the present moment and recognize the needs of their partner. Book a free 15-minute consultation today to learn how Mindfulness Therapy can help you and your significant other communicate effectively.
