Dear Caroline and Nick,
As you know, I am taking interpersonal communication, and as a close friend of the two of you, I feel that it is only right that I share information I have learned for the marriage you have ahead. I know that you are newly engaged, and this information will prove to be of use in your relationship. We have all heard “communication is the key in marriage,” and this proves to be true in many different concepts. Having effective communication is a key to build stronger and better in any relationship. This is my letter of advice to effectively use interpersonal communication in your relationship. There was a time when I thought that I had good communication skills and it was through practicing interpersonal communication skills that I learned that a healthy and long lasting relationship takes work because communicating is not just talking, it is nonverbal as well.
To start off, it is important to know the main principles and misconceptions in effective interpersonal communication. The first thing I would like to talk about is self-concept. I want to explain what it is and how it affects us and our relationships. If we were to define self-concept one could say, “Self-Concept can be defined as an appraisal of your own attributes and competencies” (Sole, pg.3.1). Self-concept is a culmination of how we see ourselves, how we perceive that others see us, what people say about us and what humankind believes we should be. Self-concept is often constructed and preserved by how we see ourselves physically, which can cause trouble with interpersonal communication in your relationship. If you see yourself in a negative light for long enough, then that is what you will project on the outside as well. This also works in reverse; if you see yourself as positive then that is what will show to others. Too many people place too much importance on our outer appearance when it comes to their happiness. If
