Being in a relationship can be very rewarding and peaceful for many people. This is because they finally get to live life with the support and understanding of someone they trust and are in sync with in terms of communication and behavioural expectations. Once you, therefore, get to share your life with someone, both of you will know your likes and dislikes, which is foundational in creating the peaceful and rewarding relationship that you want. Here is how you can let your partner know about your likes and dislikes.
Have Open Discussions
The simplest way there is to ensure that your partner gets the message that you are trying to convey is by simply talking about it in an open and honest conversation. Your partner is not a ginnie or magician so never expect them to just guess that you dislike certain things and that you like certain things. The most reliable way they can know all this is by having this conversation with them. If you like roses, random gifts, attention or regular calls, make sure you let your partner know so that they can treat you to the things that you like the most. In contrast, if you don't like certain things and have several pet peeves, also let your partner know so that your relationship is not only preserved but becomes enjoyable for both of you.
Make Use Of Shared Experiences
It is obvious how you and your partner have so many shared experiences, and if you want to take the opportunity to tell your partner about your likes and dislikes, this would be a good opportunity. Whether you are watching a movie, listening to music, or witnessing something happen, take the chance to match the experience to your likes and dislikes and share it with your partner so that they get a glimpse of the things that you appreciate and the things that you don't appreciate. An example would be if you sit down to watch a movie with your boyfriend and then notice a pair of shoes, a bag, or anything that you've been dreaming of for your next birthday, you can hint to your partner, and they will now have an idea of how to satisfy your needs.
Make Use Of Non-Verbal Cues
Sometimes, you don't even need to open your mouth to make sure that you make your partner aware of your likes and dislikes. All you need to do is react and they will know. So, an example is if you like your partner’s tendency or patting your head, when they do it, you'll probably smile from ear to ear and show that you are enjoying it. Ts will make them know that you like it and because of that, they will continue doing it. If, however, in the same scenario, you don't like what they did, chances are that you are going to frown or react badly to it, making them aware of the fact that you dislike it and aiding them in stopping this tendency.
Be Humorous About It
What’s a better way of communicating your message than in between giggles? This not only helps to keep the peace but it is a more productive way of getting yourself heard without being serious all the time. So when next you want to share the things that you like and don't like, be humorous about it. Make sure you add in a few jokes so that the situation is not tense for either you or your partner. Just make sure that you don't joke too much to the extent of the message that you are trying to convey getting lost. You need to strike a balance between the message and the joke.
Use Games
Playing games that promote deep and meaningful conversations between you and your partner is a good way of ensuring that both of you can openly share your true feelings about things. It is difficult to just randomly steer a conversation into talking about likes and dislikes which is why, if you make use of games, you don't have to deal with being anxious about how to share these things with your partner. By buying question cards and going through them with your partner, you will be able to enjoy your partner's company while sharing your heart's desire with them. Fun right?
Wait For The Storm To Pass
On certain occasions, you might be confronted with a situation where you have to share your likes and dislikes with your partner during misunderstandings or arguments. The danger with this, however, is that when emotions are high, it is very difficult for people to filter what they say or to stay respectful in the heat of the moment. Chances are that this will just cause things to escalate, taking a toll on your relationship. Instead of trying to fit in your likes and dislikes in these fragile moments, it is much rather better to wait for both you and your partner to cool down, then you'll be able to share more productively.
Use The Right Tone
The tone you use to speak to people speaks volumes about your message and it interferes with how people will receive it. If you seem agitated when you share a message, chances are that the person you are trying to talk to will become defensive. So you need to be mindful of your tone because it plays a role in ensuring that your likes and dislikes are successfully shared with your partner.