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Mother always said, "If you can't say
something nice, don't say anything at all..."
"To Tell the Truth or
To Say Something N.I.C.E.?"
Remember how your
relationship was in the very beginning?
Kristin Denton
MagicRelationship.com
Copyright 2007
In the beginning of your relationship, most likely you stayed
up all night talking about everything – your dreams and desires and
even the things that scare or embarrass you. But then, as the
relationship went a long, you stopped talking about so much.
Everything became so heavy and meaningful.
In the beginning, things were great. There was a level of trust and
open communication that created intimacy and understanding. So, what
happened to that? Where did it go and how can you get it back?
I used to try to protect my partner from those heavy, bad moods and
ugly thoughts. I went to my room and hung out until I felt like
socializing again.
I thought I was noble in my ability to control what came out of my
mouth.
I thought I was kind because I never let on what I was thinking.
But what I was doing was ruining my relationships. There was no
relationship. I was cutting myself off from others and never
allowing them to know me. They never knew what I was thinking or
feeling or needing.
I was an island. A very lonely island.
I really thought that if I let people know the ugly thoughts, not
only would they be hurt – but they would probably become angry and
disown me – betray me, talk shit behind my back. I would be the
outcast.
So I beat them to the punch! Hah! I’d banish myself to my own room
(or apartment, as I got older). I’d banish myself to silence.
You can either have a N.I.C.E. (Not Interested in Connecting
Emotionally) relationship... where you hide what is true out of
fear. Or you can have an alive, real relationship with intimacy,
compassion and understanding.
Some people withhold from their partner and add an extra zinger --
they put on a show of pain and discomfort in order to punish them.
It’s an effort to communicate just how much pain they’re in. But
none of it’s verbalized. It’s a show of the pain.
When you start keeping secrets and withholding,.. when you cut off
the sharing of life force between you,... you’re cutting off the
intimacy in your relationship. Even if you think you’re protecting
your partner from painful or embarrassing thoughts – it’s still
destroying your relationship.
Relationships require sharing... both our dreams and desires along
with our doubts and fears.
What are you feeling and what needs of yours are being met or not?
... I’m happy because my need for support in keeping our home is
being met. I’m disappointed because my need for partnership isn’t
being met in the way we’re handling our finances. I’m sad because my
need for connection isn’t being met when you’re out with your
friends every evening.
You can find out more about this style of intimate communication,
along with other advice on building healthy, intimate relationships,
at our website: MagicRelationship.com.
Another tip: when you offer your feelings and needs, it’s best to
follow them with a request. If you offer them without a request,
your partner won’t know why you’re giving them the information. Do
you want to be just heard? Do you want advice? Do you want to come
up with a strategy for meeting your needs? Why the heck are you
telling me this?
Often, a comment without a request will be taken as blame... which
will lead to fixing, fighting or fleeing. Don’t leave your poor
partner hanging.
Paul and I recommend asking, “Would you tell me what you heard me
say?” (Avoid saying ‘could’; it implies they aren’t intelligent
enough to repeat you. And avoid saying “What did I say?” because
what you said and what they heard are two different things.)
And one more tip: don’t think that little behaviors are enough to be
warranted as ‘sharing feelings and needs.’ Fixing your honey a cup
of coffee in the morning is very sweet, but it may not communicate
your feelings of love and contentment like actually verbalizing the
information. “I love you so much,” PLUS the cup of coffee goes much
further.
Frowning and throwing around the bed covers while you make the bed
may not adequately communicate your feelings and needs, either.
Instead, say: “I’m feeling disappointed because my need for support
around the house isn’t being met. Would you be willing to discuss a
way to help that would also meet your needs?”
There’s no room for misinterpretation there.
Try it out this holiday season: make a pact with your beloved to
share absolutely ALL your feelings and needs for one day – the good,
the bad and the ugly. Then follow the information with a request.
Be prepared to spend some time processing and discussing those
feelings and needs as they come up. However, try to avoid getting
into blaming and ‘fault’ behind the feelings and needs. That tends
to end up in a free-for-all about evaluations and judgments – who’s
right and who’s wrong. Try to stick with feelings, needs and
requests.
Try to do this on a day when you’ll have the time.
You won’t want to get cut off because you have to run to pick up the
kids right when you’re getting to the heart of an issue that’s snuck
up silently between you. You’re going to want to stay and hold each
other and talk it through... and feel the intimacy of clearing out
all of those old, crusty feelings and unmet needs that have been
clogging the flow of love.
And, again, you can find out more about this style of intimate
communication for relationships, a along with advice on building
healthy relationships, at our website, MagicRelationship.com.
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