Three Practical Tools for Improving Your Communication
By Harold & Bette Gillogy
Express your appreciation
The third suggestion is that you commit to openly expressing — that is, saying out loud — your appreciation and affection for one another. Did you know in studies done on the home, it is absolutely clear that "the outstanding characteristic of strong, healthy, happy families is that the members of those families freely express their appreciation and affection for each other?" Did you pick-up on those key words — "Appreciation and affection"?
Do something with us right now, won't you? Put this article down for a few minutes and write out seven qualities about your mate that you appreciate. Know what you will have? You will have a whole week of "appreciation and affection" all ready to help strengthen and heal and bring happiness to your marriage. You can use one every day. "Honey, have I ever told you how much I appreciate the way you...?" "I just love it when you...."
God tells us again and again how powerful our words are. We tend to forget that, don't we?
Now, we know these three suggestions on sharpening your communication skills are not a panacea for your marriage — or ours. But they work. They work in a very practical way to make us more honest and loving in our communication with one another. And communication is the oil that makes all the moving parts of marriage work together smoothly. Obviously, the smoother we make the struggles, the easier the growth.