The Importance of Using ‘I Feel’ Statements in Relationships
When it comes to disagreements, it's common for people to revert to their "default setting". That is, the habitual and automatic way you react without thinking when you’re stressed out and angry.
Angry feelings can mean you just end up yelling or shouting your point of view, avoiding your partner, or sulking, none of which move things on and which instead can lead to a build-up of resentment.
Instead, my suggestion is for you to use "I feel" statements to get your point across when you and your partner disagree. Own your stuff. Instead of saying “You always...”, start with “I feel”. This creates a safer space for honesty without assigning blame.
What are ‘I feel’ statements?
"I feel" statements — also known as feeling statements or just I-statements — are a couple’s therapy communication technique that focuses on the speaker’s feelings, rather than the listener’s actions.
I-statements can be a very useful communication tool in times of conflict or tension with your partner. They help remove accusations or blame from the conversation and instead allow couples to get their feelings across without instigating a defensive reaction.
It’s completely normal for couples to argue, the key arguing in the right way. Using ‘I feel’ statements during an argument can help foster healthy communication and allows you and your partner to grow closer.
In the early days of dating, it's easy to get swept away in the early glow of the forming stage, where you both seem to be on the same page as each other, the dance of give and take is going smoothly, and everything is hunky-dory. This is because you were perhaps more willing to listen to your partner and be more flexible.
Research shows that in those early loved-up stages, couples are experiencing an increase in a love chemical that not only creates natural highs but also helps to mask your partner’s flaws. There are signs of surging dopamine, increased energy, focused attention, and absolute joy in basking in even the smallest detail of your new relationship.
As time goes by and life settles into a pattern, those early chemicals fade away and life’s stressors — like work pressures, money worries, and kids — begin to demand more time and attention. This may lead to frustration, agitation and you guessed it, conflict.
Let's look at a case study. Josh and Meena have been together for seven years. They were a few weeks away from the birth of their first child, and Josh felt guilty that he was often away working for days at a time and thought Meena really needed support. Without discussing anything with her, he invited his mother over to stay and keep Meena company during his absence.
Meena felt completely blindsided. She yelled at him and told him he was inconsiderate and thoughtless. She didn’t want a stand-in, she wanted her partner. She confided in her closest friend that Josh’s behavior was disrespectful and that he was treating her like a baby. He thought he was being supportive, and she thought he was being the opposite.
How could this have shaken out differently? Josh needed to share his feelings with Meena, instead of just coming up with a solution on his own. Meena reacted (yelling angrily) rather than responding (pausing to consider the situation).
When poor communication kicks in, anger is not far behind. So, instead of paying attention to what Josh was saying and being honest about her feelings, she instead lashed out.
How to use ‘I feel’ statements
"I feel" statements can be an effective way of communicating with your partner better, especially during a fight.
Next time you find yourself in a disagreement, try using "I feel" statements to get your point across constructively. Follow these five steps:
Make time to talk. Create a specific and special time to talk with your partner — put it on the calendar or in the diary.
Take turns to speak. Set a timer, and take turns to listen and speak about the disagreement.
State your feeling This will help you take responsibility for what you're saying and avoid accusations.
Focus on one point. Don’t bring up a whole laundry list of irritations that will only make your partner switch off. Instead, focus on one point that you want to get across.
Hug it out. End by hugging it out — this will help to reduce stress, dissolve anger, and together move on more positively.
