This book contains a collection of materials that can be used to improve the ability to relate to others. The first chapter discusses causes of conflict and how conflict habits develop. The second chapter discusses freeing ourselves from self-defeating habits. This chapter asserts that the imperfect expressive capacity of language is further limited by the imperfections of the persons using it. The third chapter describes the meaning-making approach to communication in which a listener's translation provides a speaker with immediate feedback about what the speaker's communication means to the listener. The fourth chapter emphasizes listening to vocal sounds and watching for patterns of physical movement to discover clues about how persons are feeling. The fifth chapter discusses the separation of feelings from intentions, and the sixth chapter helps develop the capability to speak personal meanings clearly and directly, and considers how habit sabotages efforts to do this. The seventh chapter discusses how to build quality relationships. Seeking understanding from others, listening for meanings, translating and communicating meanings, self-disclosure, giving and receiving feedback, and nonverbal relationship messages are all discussed as elements related to building quality relationships. The eighth chapter contains strategies for dealing with criticisms and conflict, and the ninth chapter discusses the process of freeing ourselves from the grip of habit, and to exercise powers of choice when practicing the concepts outlined in this book. (LLL)