Letter of Advice

COM 200

March 3rd, 2014

Wanda and Larry, today I am writing a letter for you that will hopefully give you some good advice on how to effectively use interpersonal communication. This will be key to a great marriage and maintaining a strong and healthy relationship. I want to tell you about some common misconceptions, barriers of communication, and the impact that your culture has on interpersonal relationships. By giving you a little advice, hopefully this will give you both a head start to a sustained marriage and give you a solid base to start on.

It would be a lie if I told you that relationships aren't complicated in a lot of different ways. Relationships are delicate like a flower and should be handled very carefully. You have to exercise patience, be kind, and be thoughtful. More importantly, you need to know who you are and at the same time aware of your self-concept. “Today most researchers believe that who you think you are is a complex mix of how you see yourself; how others see you; what parents, teachers, and peers have told you about yourself; and what your society or culture tells you that you are or should be. Your self-concept is learned; it is organized, it is dynamic, and it is changeable” (Purkey, 1988). Listen to your significant other and listen to what they are telling you. Be open with each other. You can save a lot of time and heartache by doing this and in the end less tears will have been shed because of it.

Of course there will always be room for improvement when it comes to interpersonal skills. Listening effectively will help you when it comes to knowing who you are and what you want. It will also help you understand the main reasons why you need and want to communicate effectively with each other. You both have personal needs to meet. You have to