Listening is an extremely important part of any health relationship. How you listen to your partner, or anyone for that matter, can influence connection, conflict, and stress. Here are 4 tips that you can use to help improve your listening skills today.

1.  When someone is speaking to you attune to what they are saying. Listen with the goal of understanding and curiosity. Do not listen to defend or criticize. 

1. Use active listening skills such as eye contact, head nodding, question asking, and validating comments.

1. After the person is done speaking, summarize what they just said back to them. Do this until they are satisfied with your summary. 

1. Validate their perspective. Even if you do not agree with them, validate that you understand how they are seeing the situation.

These 4 steps can go a long way in helping build whatever relationship you want to work on.