How to Put Your Foot Down in a Relationship

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By JSwindell
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Article Rating: (8 Ratings)

You don't have to be a superhero but be prepared to take in what you dish out!

All relationships can be turbulent at times and how you resolve them can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes the results may be everlasting and other times it may be the beginning of the end. What matters most is that positive yet affirmative (as opposed to aggressive or bossy) communication is utilized and is mutual.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Patience
Valid points to be conveyed to the other person
Willingness to listen

Step 1

Relax - Trying to hold a serious conversation in a rush, during an event can not only be counterproductive but sometimes make a tense situation worse (i.e. discussing fidelity issues during Super Bowl or as soon as they get in from work). Even though it is best that both parties are as comfortable as possible when conversing, please do not make promises or give ultimatums to someone who is drowsy or inebriated.
Step 2

Don't deviate from your normal speaking voice. Yelling, a sarcastic tone, whispering or over-enunciating can be frustrating for the party on the listening end. If you tend to mumble your words or have a speech impediment like stuttering, take your time getting your point across. If interrupted, ask only once to finish what is being said. If the interruptions continue, dismiss the conversation altogether because boundaries are not being respected.
Step 3

Do not use clichés', "drop" rhymes or use quotes from the media. Telling someone to 'act their age and not their shoe size' or 'talk to the hand' may seem cute in music or on a sitcom. Even if you are the best MC on your block - a mature conversation gets the best results
Step 4

Let the other person express themselves. Talking over someone, knowingly using language that may be intimidating (this includes profanity) or a refusal to even acknowledge that they addressing you defeats the purpose of trying to get along.
Step 5

Give an ultimatum and let it be known that you will carry out your end of the deal if results are not achieved. Face it, these types of conversations are not fun and unless you are raising a child, should not be routine like a trip to the dentist. Of course, all situations are different, so be a fair judge but be firm in your negotiations - if you are allowing any.

Comments

cherry67 said

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on 6/3/2009 awesome article! cool pics

tundranut said

on 6/1/2009 Your intro says it all, and the steps take you through exactly How to Put Your Foot Down in a Relationship. Hey, sometimes, that's what it takes. 5*