Communicating in Relationships: Part 1

Communicating is the way you express your thoughts and listen to what other people have to say. Expressing yourself and listening are important in any relationship. We communicate verbally with words, and we also communicate non-verbally with our body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures.

Non-verbal and verbal communication should match to reflect the same message. If a person is giggling and says “stop,” the other person may interpret the message as teasing. But if a person says “stop” firmly and looks the person straight in the eye, the message is conveyed more clearly. If you are unsure of a message or get confusing signals, it is best to stop and clarify. It is important to realize that we often speak and communicate without words. Misunderstandings can occur when our body language does not match our verbal language.