Clarifying Content: How to Stop Reading Your Spouse’s Mind

I feel that I listen to my wife, but sometimes I seem to miss what she is saying. Help!

It can be too easy to find yourself in the middle of a disagreement with your spouse over something one of you did or didn’t say. Sometimes, we might think we’re listening to our husband or wife, but perhaps we’re not really getting the message.

We humans are quick to mis-hear, jump to conclusions, or assume we know what the other person is saying–when maybe, we really don’t.

There is a huge potential for misunderstanding, especially when it comes to the English language. One study even revealed that there are an average of 3.5 meanings per word! So how are we supposed to parse one another’s messages effectively without having a major communication breakdown?

A critical skill when it comes to listening to our spouse is clarifying content. This means that, when you hear what your spouse is saying and think you understand what was said, ask and double-check with him or her to find out what they really meant.

You’re not a mind-reader, and neither is your spouse. But boy, sometimes we think we are! And making assumptions without clarifying the other person’s meaning is dangerous business–and definitely not the way to cultivate lifelong love.

In today’s video, we’ll show you an example of how to effectively clarify content when communicating with your spouse.

We think we’re good at listening and interpreting, but we’re not as good as we think we are. It’s critical to ensure that you accurately understand the message your spouse is sending you; no mind-reading or assumptions allowed!

Have you and your spouse had trouble with clarifying content? What things do you do in your interactions to make sure you understand one another? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

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