Need

The word 'need' must be the one of the greatest sources of confusion to accurate and adequate relationship communication simply because most people only ever infer (implicitly, contextually) what the goal a thing is needful for, or what might happen if what is needed doesn't happen. Try inserting the phrase "in order to _____" or the phrase "or _____ will happen" - or better yet, insert both. For a frustrating but educating bit of perspective, instead of "I need _____" try using this formula every time:

"In order to _____, I need _____ or _____ will happen."

When it comes to love, our interior spaces and our emotions in general, you'll find not only you and your partner but most people only have the vaguest ideas of what to put in those first and last blanks, yet they are the blanks that make what one 'needs' meaningful.