Here’s an excerpt: 

Talking about sex is one of the hardest things for folks to do, but it really is essential for both your health and pleasure. You’re not going to have good sex if you’re worrying about getting pregnant or contracting an STD, and you’re certainly not going to have it if you are unable to communicate what you need to be satisfied. The hardest part about sexual communication is simply starting the discussion, but the more you talk, the easier it becomes, and you’ll find that the majority of people out there have a lot to say themselves but are simply too afraid. 

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Obstacles to listening:
It isn’t enough to just hear what someone is saying. Mistakes on exams, interviews and personal relationships come from poor listening skills. Think about what goes through your mind as you hear someone speak. Wondering what you will say next, how long will this take, what you are having for lunch are only a few of the distractions that pop into a person’s head.

- Focus!
People are easily distracted by nature. Develop the habit of “catching” yourself when your thoughts wander. This will require discipline, attention and practice. Create an environment with fewer distractions. Turn off the television or radio. Move physically to an isolated or private spot.

Focus and concentration aren’t the only issues. Our natural impulse is to filter information through our own experiences. This is a big problem! No two people possess identical perspectives. Therefore all information is subject to interpretation. These biases can be the foundation for minor communication problems or larger social issues.

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Here’s a snippet:

Four “Simple” Communication Tools
Steve Stewart, author of 52 Simple Rules to Improve Your Relationship, says that each partner needs to get what he or she wants from a relationship for it to be successful. To help couples communicate more effectively, Stewart uses four simple but effective tools:

1. Ask for what you want. Stewart says that most people don’t ask for what they want because they think they can’t get it. But the opposite is typically true. Most people are surprised to learn/to find out that they can get what they want simply by asking.
2. Show your partner what you want to receive. “In other words,” says Stewart, “give your partner what you would like your partner to give you.”
3. Learn to negotiate. Relationships are give and take. For example — “Honey, I will cook dinner, if you will do the dishes afterward.”
4. Learn to modify what you want. “Ask yourself if what you want is really something you have to have,” says Stewart.

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Discussion Questions:
What has helped you develop your interpersonal communication skills?
What is your strength when it comes to communicating with others?
What do you still struggle with the most?

In our teens and twenties, our friendships are everything. They define who we are, what we do and even what we buy. At the time, we assume it will always be this way. Then life races forward. Careers take off. People get married, have children. Others move away. We struggle to manage our time and responsibilities, and slowly our friends get pushed down the priority list.

This is not necessarily what we want. Few people would dispute the benefits of friendship. The problem seems to be how to fit our friends into an already overcrowded life. Friendship is like a marriage. It cannot be created once. It must be created over and over again. People and priorities change. What worked yesterday may not work today. We must nurture our friendships so they may flourish with us through our changing lives, and that’s where this guide comes in. read full article…