It is said that only 7 per cent of communication is through the words we speak. If you think about this statement long enough, it could transform the way you live your life and the relationships you have. How do you communicate? Have you ever thought about the ways in which you do this?

Have you tried heart-to-heart communication? That is, letting your inner voice speak to your partner. However good your relationship may be, there will be times when it runs into difficult moments. In these moments, it is essential that you express yourself-indulge in heart-to heart talks, openly, honestly and gently. This is a very powerful yet loving way of communicating with your partner because it allows you to connect on a deeper level than simply that of the body or mind. It connects you at the level of your heart, which is where the true you resides.

No relationship is complete without communication. So express yourself fully. Keep the words flowing. Give an outlet to your thoughts. Do not presume that your partner can read you like an open Book.

The essence of communication is to listen and to express yourself and to be willing to keep at it until you have total understanding with your partner.

Love has a language of its own. Thoughtful words words of appreciation and compliments all go a long way in helping any relationship grow. As Mark Twain once remarked: I can live for two months on a good compliment. A word of caution here: Be sincere and honest. Nowhere is this more important than in a relationship with your partner as this relationship is based on trust. The idea is not to flatter your partner; it is to make him or her feel good about life. Communicate with care. Self-esteem is considerably enhanced when someone close to us speaks well of us. It motivates us to a great extent. On the other hand, ill words, even if spoken in a moment of anger, can do a lot of harm.

That is why it is important to bring words of affirmation to your relationship. Think positive; speak positive. Be generous in your praise; curtail criticism. The manner in which you speak is also important. Kind words can veil a gentle criticism, if necessary. Humble words bring softness to a relationship.

Listening is an important part of communication. Listen with an open mind and an open heart. Listen with full attention. Often, you find that when you are talking to your partner, he or she is not listening to you. Their mind seems to be elsewhere. They are probably thinking of other things or maybe they are ignoring you because they feel that what you are saying is simply not important enough. To have a good relationship, it is essential to listen to your partner, and for your partner to listen to you.

In Buddhist practices, the masters actually make aspirants sit down and learn how to listen. After all, a lot of therapy has to do with simply listening. Sometimes, you can heal a person by listening to him or her and doing nothing else. By simply listening to them express their pain or grief, you have communicated with them. You have helped them become whole.

Poor listeners are people who are restless. They spend too much time thinking about themselves. They are not ready to share another persons experiences. Instead of listening attentively, they are busy preparing a response to what is being said.