Seven steps to marital Ecstacy
By Joe Beam
Step Two—Create Communication That Exhibits Respect
Interpretation — Each spouse must learn to hear what the other is really saying. As long as meanings are blurred or misunderstood by either spouse, their communication continually stumbles down blind alleys. When each can clearly determine what the other is intending to communicate, the relationship usually improves immediately. Proper interpretation requires understanding the process of communication and comprehending the other spouse's communication styles.
Negotiation — Every couple clashes over conflicting wishes. Recent research shows that finding a way to effectively deal with conflict is the most important skill for making a marriage last. Learning successful techniques so that "we can both get what we want" is one of the crucial components of a good marriage.
