4 Key Principles to Have Those Tough Relationship Conversations – I Dare You

1. Take a cold hard look at what the reality of the situation is – this requires that you make a decision about whether you feel able or not to take a cold hard look at your relationship.

What is going well?
What isn’t going well?
What in your view needs to change?
How does it need to change?
Who is responsible for the change?
What is your part in the change process?
When does this change need to take place? Etc. etc.

And the questions could go on for ever. This part of the process really is about getting to the DNA of your relationship issues.

2. Be real, be open, be honest – herein lies the crux of the matter. How honest are you being in the relationship? If your relationship is to move beyond experiencing conflict then this is at the heart of what needs to happen – be real, be open and be honest.

3. Once you start on this process of taking a cold hard look at your relationship – this is where you need to be – stay committed and be prepared to be no where else in examining your relationship.

Here’s the question – how committed are you to turning your relationship into what you want it to be? During this process of communication, your commitment will be tested to the core – really – how committed are you to seeing the process through, in some instances, no matter how difficult it gets?

4. Tackle the toughest challenge today. If you can stay in this place of challenge it will ultimately pay dividends.

Here are some questions that you and your partner can answer both separately and together:

What are some of the toughest challenges we have faced in our relationship over the last six months?
What has made these situations so challenging?
How, with the benefit of hindsight could I have handled them differently?
How, with the benefit of hindsight could we have handled them differently?
What steps will we take now to make things change between us?