if you’re avoiding talking to your partner about something—such as things that are bothering you in the relationship, something you did that you know your partner will be upset about, or how you really feel about the things you talk about together—then you aren’t being honest. honesty is the foundation for trust in a relationship, and trust is necessary for a relationship to function and thrive. “that being said, no need to be brutal when delivering your opinion or answering …

and every relationship we go into brings entirely new factors into play. a good place to start is with a thorough understanding of the importance of communication. when it comes to talking about what’s going on in your life, they understand more by what you don’t say than what you do. a lack of communication can have the opposite effect. this is one of the biggest benefits of honest communication within a relationship. learning how to improve communication skills means …

how can we create more trust when we continue to lie to the people closest to us in countless ways? it’s important to differentiate ourselves from harmful influences on our personality that don’t reflect who we really are and what we really want. when we are true to ourselves in this way, we are better able to be honest with the people around us.

sharing life with someone, we are bound to notice some of their negative tendencies and defenses …

it is a violation of law in some jurisdictions to falsely identify yourself in an email. and it is the main way you can communicate to others that it is safe to join you in dialogue. if you have an outsized reaction in a family conversation, it’s the same type of indicator—something is going on inside you that needs to be explored. if the interaction becomes a debate about your spending, you can’t get into reflective dialogue about the real …

are you able to really open up in conversations with your partner? how often have you walked away from a conversation with your partner feeling angry, disappointed, or misunderstood? in the heat of the moment, we tend to forget how to be kind, patient, and loving. don’t bring up your bedroom issues at the beginning of the super bowl or launch into a serious talk on your way to a holiday party. and never start a conversation when you’re too …