The Importance of Honesty In A Relationship

^{Hey, so today we're going to talk about something that is so, so important to any successful relationship. But I think it's also a topic that can be talked about and maybe have its real meaning overlooked. And this is showing up honestly in your relationship. And I'm not really just talking about lying to your partner like straight up telling lies. This is more of a shout out to the people pleasers and how we show up genuinely as our true self in that relationship.} 

^{So to say that honesty is important is pretty obvious, right? I think we would all agree about that. It's the foundation on which we have trust, respect, intimacy. Without honesty, we can't really have any of those things. But let's be honest, no pun intended. Being completely honest with your partner isn't always easy. Sometimes we hold back because we're afraid of facing possible repercussions, like hurting our partners feelings or causing conflict. But why is it so important that we're honest in our relationship anyway?} 

^{First, honesty really builds trust. It's a huge part of a strong and resilient partnership. Being honest with your partner is essentially saying, I trust you with my thoughts, my feelings, my vulnerabilities, and that trust forms the healthy bond. Also, when you're honest with your partner, you're really showing them respect. You're saying, hey, I value you enough to share my thoughts and my feelings openly, and I trust that it's going to be okay. This openness creates a safe space for both of you to communicate authentically, fostering much more connection than you'd have otherwise.} 

^{Now, I want to be clear. Honesty does not mean blurting out every little thing that crosses your mind, or just hauling off about everything you're upset about. It's about being authentic and transparent while also being considerate of your partner's feelings. It's finding that balance between being truthful and also being empathetic and kind.} 

^{And I'll tell you, I really have had a hard time with this in the past because of the things that I mentioned, right? I didn't want to upset my partner. I didn't want to cause a fight I didn't want. To, you know, possibly create a difficult situation. So I would just go along and not really express my own thoughts or opinions about something. And what I found was I was looking back and realizing I wasn't happy with a lot of things, and it was kind of my own fault. Right. Because I just went along and I didn't really say what my own thoughts really were. And that's why it is so important to even though it's scary, and even though there's a lot of unknowns in there to really show up, honestly in your relationship.} 

^{Think about it this way when you're being honest with your partner, you're really inviting them into your world. You're showing them your true self, and in return, they're more likely to reciprocate. This creates an environment where both of you feel safe to express yourselves without fear of judgment, and you get to really know the true self of your partner.} 

^{So how do we practice honesty in our relationships? Start by having open lines of communication. You want to have an environment where both of you feel comfortable talking about your thoughts, your feelings, without fear of being judged or having it held against you later, understanding your own feelings and motivations before expressing them to your partner. And this helps you communicate more clearly and authentically. Also, active listening is so important. Again, right? When your partner is talking to you openly, listen, pay attention, validate their feelings, and let them know you appreciate their honesty. It's a two way street.} 

^{Remember, honesty isn't just about telling the truth, and it's not about pointing fingers or assigning blame. It's about fostering deeper connection by sharing your true selves with each other. All right, that's that. Thanks for joining me today. I hope this was helpful. Until next time. Remember, take care of yourself and take care of each other.} 

^{That's it for today. I hope this was helpful. If you want to take my free Couples Connection quiz, learn more about me or how to work with me, you can check out my website abetterrelationshipcoaching.com until next time, take care.}