Good communication is essential to any healthy relationship, whether it's between spouses, family members, friends, or co-workers, and mindfulness--the practice of nonjudgmental awareness--can help us communicate more effectively and meaningfully with others in our personal and professional lives. Here, Susan Chapman, a psychotherapist and long-time Buddhist practitioner, explains how the practice of mindfulness awareness can change the way we speak and listen, enhance our relationships, and help us achieve our goals.

Chapman highlights five key elements of mindful communication--silence,...