Communication seems to be the "In" thing for marriages lately. Have you ever sat down and thought about why so many therapists feel this way? Many marriages get stuck in transit and can't seem to move past certain points. Here are easy ways to explore communication with your partner so that you can grow together and not apart. Communication is the key to every marriage! Without it, you have nothing! Communication is the tool to bring closeness, understanding, and love to your marriage. Voiced feelings and emotions show thoughtfulness, kindness, and caring for your partner.

What types of things should every marriage discuss?
1. Discuss Making Love & Sex
2. Discuss Anger
3. Discuss Grief
4. Discuss Sadness
5. Discuss Happiness
6. Discuss Your Future
7. Discuss Your Dreams
8. Discuss Your Hopes
9. Discuss Your Fears

Each of these discussions can lead to some major discoveries and remind you of things you might have forgotten about in your partner. Re-assess your marriage and take the time to get to know each other the way you did before you were married. Taking note of what you would like to work on or what you hope to accomplish with your spouse in the future. Discussing your inner-most thoughts together. Don't leave anything out. If you do, it is like having a secret from your spouse. Secrets are non-discussion areas that lead to many a problem!

Sex and Making Love is on the top of this list because this is a BIG factor in almost every relationship. Too much, too little, pain, comfort, desire, love, attractiveness, emotional ties, past relationships, problems in your world, passion, and others can be the determining factor of what you are experiencing. Making Love requires an emotional attachment, a deep shared Love with your partner. Having sex is mostly lust, unattached emotions; a physical experience. There is a difference and the difference is Loving your partner. Being in love and loving your partner are two different things. When you Love someone and they Love you back equally, then you are Loving each other. This is what you need to discover in your life, because this is the most wonderful part about Making Love. Having Sex is mostly a physical release, either yours or your partners.

When you discuss your anger instead of shouting at your mate, you get to the bottom of things faster. Anger subsides and has nothing to feed on when differences are discussed rationally. Anger always feeds on itself and always builds. The next time you fight with your partner, don't go to sleep angry! It is so unhealthy for your body if you do.

Discussing Grief, Sadness, and Happiness is another way to connect to your spouse. You should know how your partner feels about situations in your past, present and future. Situations of grief will bring on the natural feeling to console your partner and try to help them through it. Sadness and Happiness work the same way too. If you discuss them with your partner, he/she will know how you feel and can work with you to release the sadness and celebrate the happiness.

When you discuss the future, dreams, you will get in touch with your partners wants and dislikes. Make future plans with your spouse and work towards a goal together. Never make marriage a one-person future! When you discuss your dreams, listen to your partner's dreams as well. Then come up with some compromises to make things flow together. Dreams can change and progress as you grow older, but when you discuss them together and come to an agreement about them. You will find that this draws you closer to your spouse. Hopes and Fears go hand in hand too. Discussing your hopes and expectations will help you prepare the path to discuss your fears openly. Tread evenly and wisely here because you do not want your spouse to feel bad in any way when exposing his/her biggest fears to you. No one wants to be made fun of and no one wants to be made to feel inadequate as a human being. Let the two of you listen to each other and find a way to deal with, get past, and move on to the future after discussing your hopes and fears.

Communication is the biggest step towards making your marriage work and thrive! Know how your partner feels about everything and you in turn share your feelings too. Don't try to be the hero or the savior; stand with your partner. Discuss what bothers you and what your feelings are. Don't let non-communication get in the way of a good marriage. Build your strengths in communication!