When meeting someone for the first time, we intuitively size each other up by the words that we say, our manners and body language. Although it’s not always easy to be ourselves around somebody new, honesty is key to creating a strong foundation for love and happiness. Whether you’re on a first date or in an established long-term relationship, be yourself. Be upfront and honest about your feelings and emotions. People appreciate straight talk — so just say it!

Relationship experts spend a huge amount of time focusing on building and improving people’s communication skills because they’re directly tied to relationship success — or failure. Incorporating verbiage into your conversation that would impress an academic in an attempt to display your great mental capacity, is, as this sentence plainly shows, BORING! There’s more to good communication than an extensive vocabulary.

One last point that is just as important as what you say, is that you give 100% undivided attention to what your partner has to say and respond with enthusiasm and interest. No matter how well you express yourself personally, if you are indifferent to they have to say and too anxious to jump in with your two cents, your chances of long-term relationship success will be slim.