Real relationships go through cycles of harmony, disconnection and repair. Hopefully those cycles will become gentle slopes and not peaks and valleys as partners learn the skills of relationship repair. One essential skill is communicating relationally where the intention is, not just expressing your point of view, but repairing a disconnect with your partner. The Imago “dialogue” teaches this skill.
Your partner is not so interested in how you view the issue at hand but how much you care about them and being able to experience you as open, reasonable and flexible. This will calm and reassure them that the problem can be worked through. This will prevent the escalation of the destructive cycle and jumpstart the communication process in an effective manner.
Taking the time to learn this way of communicating pays off big time. What have you experienced when you attempt to repair a rupture?
