relationship-skills
Relationship Skills
Build stronger connections with practical communication, conflict resolution, and intentional connection ideas.
What it does
- Communication Tools - Framework for clearer, more honest conversations
- Conflict Resolution - De-escalation techniques and structured problem-solving
- Date Ideas - Curated suggestions based on preferences and location
- Relationship Health Tracking - Check-in prompts and pattern detection
- Connection Builder - Personalized ideas for deepening bonds
Usage
Communication Help
Ask for frameworks to improve conversations:
- "Help me bring up a difficult topic"
- "How do I express my feelings without getting defensive?"
- "I need language to ask for what I need"
Resolve Conflict
Navigate disagreements with structure:
- "We're stuck in the same argument"
- "How do I address this without blame?"
- "Give me a conflict resolution framework"
Date Ideas
Get personalized suggestions:
- "What can we do this weekend on a budget?"
- "Suggest something we've never tried"
- "I want to surprise them with something meaningful"
Check-in Prompts
Deepen connection with intentional questions:
- "Give me conversation starters for tonight"
- "What should we talk about to reconnect?"
- "Questions to understand each other better"
Track Patterns
Identify what's working and what isn't:
- "What topics come up repeatedly?"
- "When do we connect best?"
- "What's improved since last month?"
Communication Tools
I-Statements
Frame observations without blame:
- Pattern: "I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [impact]"
- Example: "I feel disconnected when we're both on phones because I miss talking with you"
- Avoids: "You never listen to me" → "I need more of your attention"
Active Listening
Signal understanding and create safety:
- Reflect back: "What I hear is..."
- Validate: "That makes sense because..."
- Clarify: "Do you mean...?"
- Pause response urges—just listen first
Needs Expression
Get clear on what actually matters:
- Name the need, not the demand: "I need to feel valued" (not "Do what I say")
- Be specific: "I need 20 minutes of your full attention" (not "spend more time together")
- Connect to why: "...because it helps me feel secure"
Boundary Setting
Protect the relationship by protecting yourself:
- Clear: "I can't discuss this when I'm tired"
- Non-negotiable: "I need time alone to recharge"
- Collaborative: "Can we talk about this after work?"
- Consequences: "If we keep going, I'll need to step away"
Tips
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Timing matters - Don't resolve conflict when either person is hungry, tired, or triggered. Schedule hard conversations.
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Curiosity over certainty - Ask questions before making assumptions. "Help me understand..." opens doors more than statements.
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Small, frequent connections beat grand gestures - 5 minutes of presence daily matters more than an occasional date night.
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Repair quickly - Conflicts are normal; getting stuck in them isn't. Apologize without conditions, acknowledge their experience, move forward.
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All data stays local on your machine - Your relationship history, preferences, and check-ins never leave your device. Privacy protected.