You'll Want to Steal These Communication Secrets From Happy Couples

"It's not just about the words you say but also how you can touch your partner to offer reassurance. Sometimes it'll be holding hands while speaking or lightly touching a knee or arm or something to stay connected."

"If you look away, it seems like you don't care to listen and be there for the conversation, so holding eye contact is really important for staying there and making sure your partner feels like they're being heard."

"Not after every sentence, of course, but if you say 'I see you're upset because you think this' or 'What you're saying is this then' or something similar to show you grasp what they're saying to you, it shows you're working to see their side and then everyone can also stay on the same page and actually fix the problem better."

"It's smart to say you understand why they're upset even if you don't really get it or see it at all. Lying will help you out! Say you get why they're upset and you're sorry, and then you can move on and try not to do it again in the future, too."

"Way simpler than you realize. Just say sorry. Even if you don't mean it. It'll at least break tension and make them think you're sorry or at least want to move on. Still, though, after you say it, talk about why it hurt them and say you'll try better in the future. Not apologizing and taking any fault is a bad move."

"Don't play the blame game. It's better to say 'we' instead of 'you' and say, 'we are both hurt' or 'we both didn't do the right thing and now let's talk about it' instead of attacking the other person and playing victim."

"If it's not forgivable, then don't, but if it's a little fight that isn't huge, and your partner seems to be sorry or trying to work on things then forgive them. If you're too stubborn, you'll never move on and be good again (which isn't fun anyway), and it sends the wrong message like whatever they say sorry for doesn't really matter."

"Yelling just makes it hard to get a message across and worsens the anger on both sides. Instead, stay calm and rational. Also, if you're too heated, wait to talk and remove yourself because you won't be able to speak clearly."

"Let your partner speak too to share their side and feelings. If you keep interrupting them, it's rude and doesn't make for effective conversation."

"Sure, it's nice to apologize, but it's not so nice if you do the same exact thing that upset your partner over and over again. Make it known that you are aware of what went wrong, what you need to work on to be there for your partner, and then how you're going to improve for the future."