You Should Be Communicating Your Needs In All Relationships, Not Just Romantic Ones: Here’s How
If you’re generally a non-confrontational person, communicating your needs and telling the people in your life what you really want can feel almost impossible.
We’ve often heard how important it is to let our romantic partners and spouses know what we want out of the relationship and in our shared futures. It’s a way to grow closer to your partner and show them how they can make you happy.
However, communicating your needs is important in every single relationship you’re part of, not just the romantic ones.
For instance, one of the best ways to keep an old friendship healthy is to always check in with one another and be honest about what you want out of your relationship.
Have you ever struggled watching your friend grow distant from you, hang out with others, or stop responding to your texts? The best way to prevent that from spiraling into a failed friendship is to let that friend know what you want.
If you want to see them more often, let them know. If you need them to check in with you more, let them know.
The longer you stay friends with someone unaware of your wants or needs and leaves you feeling hurt and ignored, your resentment will only build up to the point where you can’t stand the thought of having that person in your life anymore.
The same thing goes for relationships with your relatives! However, certain relatives often stay a part of your life no matter what, so communicating your needs with them is extra important.
If you’re unsure how to communicate your needs to the people in your life, here are some tips on how to do it.
halayalex – stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
First, you’ll want to identify your needs. Think carefully about something you could really use from your friend, partner, or family member that they haven’t given you in a long time.
Then, you’ll want to approach the situation gently, especially if this is the first time you’ve ever communicated this need to this person. Try sitting them down and using “I” statements. For instance, if your friend hasn’t reached out to you in a while, try telling them, “I would really like to hear from you more, and I’d love it if you would check in with me from time to time.”
If you’re about to go through a major life change and could use help from family members, don’t be afraid to tell them, “I need support as I go through this change.”
Using an “I” statement is one of the most simple yet effective ways to let someone know how you feel and what you need from them.
I know having this kind of conversation with someone can be scary, especially if you’re not used to talking about yourself or your feelings. But if this person truly means a lot to you and if they value you, they’ll understand.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
She Walked Out Of A First Date After A Guy Berated Her For Not Wanting To Have Kids
She Got Up And Left Her Own Wedding In Tears After Her Parents Humiliated Her During Their Speech
She’s Worried That Her Preschooler Son Is Showing Psychopathic Signs
Want To Deer-Proof Your Garden? Here Are 10 Shrubs That Deer Won’t Dine On
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Advice