By Emmanuella Owusu, GNA
Ashaiman, May 25, GNA – Mr George Asah, a Relationship Consultant, has cautioned married couples against the total relegation of effective communication from the essentials of modern marital life.
Mr Asah said the lack of communication and basic relationship knowledge was largely responsible for the breaking apart of modern marriages.
He gave the advice during a marital seminar organised by the Church of Christ Lebanon.
Speaking on the theme, “Effective Communication in Marriage”, he drew insights from scriptures to emphasise that marriage was an intense relationship of partnership where friction is inevitable.
“Every partnership involves friction, but effective communication serves as the crucial lubricant needed to prevent destructive clashes,” Mr Asah stated, adding that, “We are currently seeing marriages decay not because love was missing, but because couples have taken communication for granted and ignored the necessary safety controls and preventative measures.”
He noted that for communication to succeed, both the sender and the receiver must actively take responsibility for the message being transmitted.
The relationship consultant also identified several negative listening habits, which he described as listening bloopers that undermined proper marital understanding and bred deep resentment.
Among these, he cited the interrupters, whom he described as partners who spend their listening time forming a reply while waiting for a split second to break into the conversation.
He also cautioned against the total lack of eye contact during deep conversations, stating that consciously refusing to look at a partner conveys disinterest, distrust, and a lack of care.
“Refusing to maintain eye contact with your spouse during critical discussions is, quite frankly, cruel,” he added.
Mr Asah further urged couples to watch out for annoying listening behaviours, such as pacing back and forth as if in a hurry to escape, finishing a spouse’s sentences, or restating what a partner says by forcefully putting words in their mouths.
He called on the participants to critically evaluate their communication habits and determine whether they fell into the ‘wayside’ group where vital marital messages were easily trampled upon and lost.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Emmanuella Owusu, GNA