As an online divorce review site, we’re about helping couples at the end of the proverbial rope to find a reasonable, affordable, and comforting solution to their marital problems. Often times, the only answer is divorce, but sometimes there is still hope.
It all hinges on communication.
With that said, we recently came across Huffington Post contributor Darryl Cobbin’s tips for better communication in a marriage. These are worth listening to:
1) Plan: Schedule the proper time to talk about difficult topics; don’t just launch into it without warning.
2) Stay Open: Don’t go in to the discussion tied to one rigid outcome. Keep an open mind and a willingness to change your thinking if necessary.
3) Pause: Pull the plug on your discussion if it starts to get too heated. “Argument mode,” as Cobbin calls it, ensures that one or both spouses will leave the discussion feeling defeated rather than resolved.
4) Acknowledge: You want to be heard, and so does your spouse. Therefore, acknowledge what they’re saying. It isn’t about faking agreement; it’s about showing that you’re listening and, more importantly, considering what the other person has to say.
5) Be Curious: Focus on the “why” behind what your spouse is feeling or believing. Seek to learn their point of view. If you do so, then even if you still disagree, you’ll walk out of the communication feeling more accomplished and less emotional.
6) Agreement: Find a solution you can both live with. Sometimes you may acquiesce to the other person’s viewpoint. Sometimes they may acquiesce to yours. Ideally, you’ll both find a solution that is a fair compromise when it needs to be. But do keep in mind that sometimes you’re right and they’re wrong, and vice versa.
While we offer online divorce reviews to some of the most helpful sites on the Internet for ending your marriage peacefully and equitably, we don’t desire to see anyone get a divorce. That’s why we hope that you both will commit to a pattern of healthy communication before making a final decision. Good luck!