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"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Book review: Things I wish I'd known before we got married
Learning to Listen
So, how do you build a positive relationship with your in-laws? I want to suggest that the process begins by learning to listen empathetically. By empathetic listening, I mean listening with a view to understanding what your in-laws think, how they came to that conclusion, and how strongly they feel about it.
By nature, most of us are not good listeners. We often listen long enough to give a rebuttal and we end up in needless arguments. Empathetic listening holds judgement until you are certain that you understand what the person is saying. This involves asking clarifying questions such as, "What I understand you to be saying is... Is that correct?" Or, "It sounds like you are asking me to...is that what you want?" Once you have listened long enough to clearly understand what they are saying and how strongly they feel about it, you are then free to give your perspective on the subject. Because you have listened to them without condemnation, they are far more likely to hear your honest perspective.
To be continued tomorrow by God's grace.
#Amos:3:3
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#happynewmonth
Gracedrelationshiprecipe@blogspot.com
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