This seems like a “duh” piece of advice to give, but so many people quickly forget how fundamental healthy communication is in any relationship, whether it’s with your significant other, friends, family, or anybody. Heck, even with your dog. What I’m about to say you have probably heard a million times before, but they need to be said and heard sometimes. Healthy communication can help avoid conflict or just make it easier to deal with conflict. The first obvious step is to get your thoughts in order. If you don’t think over what you want to say or discuss beforehand, there are going to be some gaps in understanding. Think before you speak and be clear about what you are communicating. Don’t beat around the bush because that doesn’t help anyone. Make the message as clear as possible. Be ready to take responsibility and accountability for your actions and be an active listener for whoever you are communicating with. Don’t just say your feelings and go. Communication is a team effort and to communicate effectively, you need to express your feelings as well as actively listening to the other person.