Communication Part 1: Relationships

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/communication-quotes/

How do we communicate when we're in relationships?

My brother and I had a conversation about this a few weeks ago. We basically talked about how women and men communicate differently, of course, but some of the mindsets that can cause stress or conflict in a relationship.

Women, from what we've seen, will oftentimes want something from the man, or someone else even, and just expect them to know. (GUILTY!) The other person is just expected to know what she wants without having any words exchanged.

How is that possible?

Unless you're dating a mind-reader, that's not happening. I've had friends come to me and say, "I just don't know what to do! It seems like my relationship is falling apart because he does this, and it drives me crazy! He does that, and I can't stand it!"

My response is almost always, "Well, have you told him that those things bother you?"

Blank stare, "...no..."

"Well then how is he supposed to know that those behaviors/habits/etc, bother you if you haven't told him?"

- end scene -

It's always the same. They want their significant other to change, but they won't communicate that to them. They're continually upset until they finally "break down" and talk out the issue. And guess what? The issue usually resolves!

WHO KNEW.

I don't always have the answers, but I do my best.

What I'm trying to say is that, as women, I think we need to work on being better communicators. Of course, that doesn't exempt men from working on it too, but from a lady's perspective, that's what I think. Again, there are also going to be women out there who are stellar communicators with everyone around them (I wish I was one of those). There are also those (like some of my friends) who don't communicate until they're about to flip out. Even then, it's sometimes a struggle to get them to talk to whomever they're having an issue with.

It's a balance.

I'm not saying I'm perfect, because I'm definitely not, but I'm going to try to be better at saying what's on my mind instead of expecting people to just know.

xoxo
Rachel