Communication is the key to any successful relationship.

For two parties to have a healthy and lengthy relationship, they always have to keep the channels of communication flowing and vibrant.

Here is how you can improve communication between you and your partner.

Be Open

Always show an open nature about yourself.

For your partner to communicate effectively with you on a consistent level, they have to feel that you are open and receptive to that.

Make it a mission to maintain a level of openness in your relationship.

One of the ways you can do this is to cultivate a non-judgmental persona.

Be The Encourager

Don’t just sit back and wait or hope that your partner will communicate with you more openly and freely.

You need to take a proactive approach to the issue.

Encourage your partner by repeatedly letting them know that they are free to tell you whatever whenever.

At first, your partner may not necessarily take advantage of this but the more you encourage, the more likely they will do this eventually.

Use Humor

Humor is a great way to improve communication between your partner and yourself because it causes laughter first and foremost.

A recent MRI study performed by Doctors at Stanford University concluded that laughter causes a chemical reaction that heightens mood and reduces stress.

The Doctors discovered that whenever there is laughter, a part of the brain called the Nucleus Accumbens releases dopamine which is a natural opiate.

Dopamine is what causes the positive chemical reaction.

Laughter causes a more relaxed mood which in turn leads to improved communication.

Play Interactive Games Together

A great way to improve communication is to play interactive games with your partner.

Board games are really the best for this sort of exercise. They are fun and tend to contribute to a very relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.

It is while you are in this atmosphere that you can begin to ease into more effective communication with your partner.

In this scenario, the board game is the intermediary and while you are both having fun, your partner may be more open and receptive to talking about other topics.

Be Understanding and Practice Patience

If you are the one who is trying to encourage and improve communication with your partner ensure that you understand where they are coming from.

They may not be ready or willing to improve communication with you for various reasons. It’s in your best interest to be patient and avoid being overbearing.

As long as you are persistent, you will eventually get your partner to communicate with you on an effective level.

They just have to get used to the idea.