Sometimes doing nothing will produce the response you want. It's not an issue of "control" it's doing something that might work.
For example, if you came home and your W complained that you don't pick your clothes off the ground... every day, you'd start to tune her out. But what if she didn't say anything but left your clothes where they were and let them accumulate. Maybe it'll get you thinking that "hey it's a mess" and you'll pick them up. She gets the result she wanted without saying anything. That's a simplistic example, but you get the picture.
Mr Bond, this is an awesome view of how doing NOTHING can be more effective than doing something.
Originally Posted By: MrBond
Or of you're talking to a teenager and kept telling him that he couldn't see a certain girl. It's going to make him want to see her even more.
This is true.
Originally Posted By: MrBond
You want a specific plan of action? Well start writing down the actions you have done and if they produced a negative or positive result. Do more of that which gets you a positive. Simple as that.
"A half decent listener."
I think that's your issue right there. You are "hearing" what your W and others are telling you, but you may not be "listening".
No two sitches are exactly alike. You're going to have to start forming your own strategy based on your own circumstances.
