Relationships can be difficult but the most common problem that plagues people in relationships is lack of communication. Not communicating can cause so many issues and make tiny issues a much larger issue. By communicating, you can figure out what your partner is thinking and feeling and you can work towards a solution, whereas if you don’t, you both end up getting angrier and more resentful and finding a solution will be much harder.
One of the best ways to communicate is by asking questions. You can’t just assume what the other person is thinking, so making sure you’re asking the right questions can make a huge difference to your relationship. So here are some questions you should definitely be asking your partner for a stronger partnership.
Why do you feel that way?
Why is this question so important? It’s because it explicitly is asking what the other person is thinking and why they feel that way. The worst thing we can do second to not communicating is assuming. Assumptions are exactly that: a guess. They’re not fact and if you’re way off base you could not only hurt someone’s feelings but create a problem out of something that wasn’t even a problem to begin with.
All relationships are built on truth, so making sure you ask why they feel the way they do can start a discussion that will only bring you closer.
What are your goals for the next five years?
A huge mistake people make, especially early on in relationships, is not figuring out whether they want to the same things. Maybe one wants kids and one doesn’t, maybe one wants marriage and the other doesn’t or maybe one wants to travel the world and the other would rather stay put. These are all big changes and if you’re not willing to sacrifice what you want or find something in the middle you’re going to have a problem.
Staying on the same page is crucial and wanting the same things out of life is so important. So figuring out what your partner is looking for, especially in the next five years, is a critical question.
What can I do better?
Being in a relationship is always about improving ourselves and encouraging the other person to be their best self too. Getting honest feedback is such a critical part of that growth so you need to be asking straight up what you can do better, either for them or in life. You don’t always have to take it, but your partner will see things that you’ll never observe about yourself.
Being in a relationship can be difficult but it shouldn’t feel like an imposition. Asking these three questions can help deepen your connection and also help you go the distance.
