Opposites attract and likes repel. When a couple cannot accommodate their “attractive differences” and tries to act as one person, the second half of magnetic law is set into action. A widening gulf develops as partners start to repel each other and differences become extreme.
The first step to bridging this chasm is to become aware of the communication patterns that feed it. You can start by identifying what your partner does that bothers you. However, immediately examine how you react. For example, if your partner is sloppy, have you become the critic? If your partner is critical, do you find yourself on the defensive or withdrawing? Whenever a problem occurs, the variety of responses to it is endless. Yet, most people get stuck in “fight” or “flight” reactions.
The most important learned communication response to use when either you or your partner is upset is to show understanding. The word “show” is emphasized because it does not help to understand unless you demonstrate your understanding by rephrasing thoughts, labeling feelings, and validating factors that contribute to emotions. Using all three active listening responses can produce powerful results.
Many people have fears that they will never be understood, resolve their feelings, or have their needs met unless they talk. When the art of listening is understood, it makes sense why the opposite is true:
- You can reduce the intensity of your own reactions by understanding the hurt that underlies your partner’s undesirable behavior. Always assume that when your partner does not treat you well, there is an old resentment or fear behind that behavior.
- Your partner will have less need to defend, withdraw, attack, or give long-winded speeches. It may take several statements of understanding before your partner realizes that you simply want to understand without trying to force changes.
- The best way to obtain understanding is by giving it. As your partner’s defenses come down, they will want to understand how things have been for you. Your persistent efforts to show understanding will serve as a model that can teach your partner to rephrase, identify feelings, validate, and sympathize. You can aid the process (after you thoroughly understand your partner’s feelings) by asking, “Would you like to understand why I acted the way I did?”
- Long-lasting solutions come from understanding. They are never reached by convincing, ordering, threatening, or nagging. Over time, deep levels of understanding will develop and conflicts will begin to resolve themselves.
- You and your partner will begin to encourage the best in each other by appreciating the good intentions in difficult behavior. When understanding and active listening have been cultivated, it enables you both to come into conversations with the assumption that your partner is doing the best they can.