Shirley Cole

o you want my opinion, or do you want me to listen?

The speaker generates meaning in the mind of the listener, but the listener can only have meaning generated based on what they already understand.

You can’t control your partner; you can’t control anyone except yourself, but you can control yourself and inspire and encourage your partner that way.

oth sides have to completely come clean and own their mistakes. There needs to be total, unconditional honesty, emotional transparency, and a real commitment to change and healing.

verybody makes mistakes, and our hearts and minds can sometimes become so wrapped up and absorbed by something that we lose all sight of the bigger picture, leaving us to come to our senses and realize what a huge mistake we’ve made only after it’s all said and done.

Every relationship faces problems, and every couple will be tested. A good, strong relationship isn’t about being perfect or keeping a squeaky clean record. It’s about rising to every challenge and overcoming all the obstacles you face. It’s about being able to admit when you’re wrong and making a genuine effort to try to make things better. It’s about not giving up, no matter what, and having each other’s backs until the end. A strong relationship is one based on teamwork, not competition. It’s one that approaches problems with a mentality of ‘how do we handle this together?’ and then looking for solutions, rather than blaming each other and dwelling on the problems themselves. It’s not you versus them, it’s the two of you versus the issue, every time.

Many couples find it very difficult to properly communicate with each other. They struggle to find the right words to say or the right state of mind to properly connec

They struggle to find the right words to say or the right state of mind to properly connect at the same time. This lack of communication leads to arguments and fights which only make the problem worse, allowing emotions to spiral out of control and feelings to get hurt. It’s common for two people who love each other more than anything to lay awake at night crying, one in their bed and the other on the couch, each wishing their partner could see things the way they do. Many relationships are characterized not by mutual support but by petty fights and bickering that never seem to end. Couples fail to listen to each other or approach problem’s together, instead preferring to focus on who’s to blame or who’s done something to hurt the other. Instead of showing love and affection to one another, there is more often than not an atmosphere of tension and resentment. All of these issues ultimately boil down to a lack of effective, calm, empathetic, loving communication.

o you want my opinion, or do you want me to listen?

The speaker generates meaning in the mind of the listener, but the listener can only have meaning generated based on what they already understand.

You can’t control your partner; you can’t control anyone except yourself, but you can control yourself and inspire and encourage your partner that way.