Dating can bring up all types of emotions for many of us.
We may feel stress, joy, fear or maybe a bit of all our emotions.
So, here are a few tips to help you communicate better as you go through the experience of dating.
Clear and effective communication is always important, most especially when dating to ensure you are laying a healthy foundation for the relationship.
You may meet people through friends, work, activites or even online. So, when you are meeting people and trying to determine if this is a person is someone you'd like to spend more time with and date, focus on these 7 tips:
-
Listen with a lense of curiosity. Listening only to respond takes away from being present and trying to really connect with a someone.
-
Put judgment and reactivity aside - be sure to ask questions with the goal of seeking to understand where they are coming from.
-
Unclear about intention or meaning. If something was said that leaves you feeling unsure, or seemed unclear - be sure to mirror back what you heard to seek true understanding.
-
Stay open minded. It's ok to have understanding for a person's view point and still not agree with what they are sharing. What matters is how you respond. You may differ on major issues, and this is where you are determining if this feels like a good fit.
-
Eliminate distractions. Phone away, eye contact, environment good for talking.
-
You may be tempted to text, email or phone call. However, face to face conversations can help you connect deeper.
- Most importantly, be yourself. This is the time to see if you connect with someone and they connect with you. Be authentic, Be you.
If you need a little help around dating or connecting with others, we're here to help. Check out our Imago Relationship workshops and therapy.
Discover more about Imago with our Imago Professional Membership, Imago Professional Facilitators and Imago Professional Training.
