Relationships take work and a great deal of communication.

Relationships aren’t something that we were particularly taught how to manage or navigate. Maybe you had a good role model growing up who taught you the basics, or maybe you didn’t. The same goes with communication. We talk to people every day, but how effective is our communication? 

When it comes to relationships, it is important to communicate clearly and effectively. You can start by using “I” statements. Often times when we are talking or even arguing, we put a lot of blame on the other person. For example, we may say things like “you never take out the trash!” By starting the sentence with “you” and following it with a negative statement, we put a lot of unnecessary blame on the other person, which will more than likely trigger an argument. Instead, try saying something like “I would appreciate help in taking the trash out.” Do you see the difference? For starters, we are focusing on “I,” or the self. It minimizes the likelihood of defense from the person on the receiving end. It also effectively and clearly states our request while minimizing blame.