Emotions are fundamental aspects of a human personality that allow us to express our identity and feelings through emotional cues. Therefore, I can confidently state that emotional intimacy is a crucial element that strengthens the bonds of a romantic relationship.
A strong foundation of a romantic relationship is created with the help of physical and emotional intimacy. When physical intimacy takes a back seat, emotional intimacy is the one that runs the show. In this blog, I will take you on a journey where you will learn how to grow emotional intimacy in your marriage/relationship.
What is emotional intimacy? To elaborate, emotional intimacy refers to the deep bond that exists between two partners committed to one another. We can say that emotional intimacy can be characterized by a profound understanding and mutual vulnerability between two people.
If you are emotionally intimate with your partner, your relationship can grow much deeper and strong. It means that you share your deepest feelings, thoughts, and experiences in a safe, supportive environment with one another.
There is no doubt that to maintain love and affection in a relationship, you have to be spontaneous and proactive and show your love to your partner. Emotional intimacy is one of those actions.
Here are some ways to grow emotional intimacy in your marriage/relationship with time:
The most important step to grow emotional intimacy in your relationship is to spend quality time with your partner.
Taking time out of your day and dedicating it to simply communicating and pursuing your hobbies with your partner can build a profound sense of bonding.
You can go for a stroll, play board games, cook food together, or simply cuddle with each other on the sofa- watching your favorite movie on a Friday night.
Try to maintain a proper work life balance so that your partner does not feel left out. If you actively try to bond with your partner and make time for them, they will feel very loved and appreciated.
The foundation of any successful relationship is effective communication. Communicating your needs and desires to your partner as clearly and as concisely as possible will help you strengthen your love for each other.
One of the tricks to excellent communication skills is to be a good listener and understand what your partner has to say, instead of just listening and giving a shallow reply.
Communicating with an open mind with the space for constructive criticism, and avoiding character traits like defensiveness can lead to a deep emotional intimacy in your relationship.
Another way of building emotional intimacy in your relationship is – to accept the fact that no one is perfect and that’s okay. When there is a conflict between you, instead of making it a blame game, approach the problem as you and your partner versus the problem and not you versus your partner.
Both of you should cultivate respect for each other, feel empathetic for each other, and find a solution that benefits both of you. To build a strong and successful relationship where you are loved and cherished, you must set your pride and ego aside. The idea that you have to win an argument or be the right one will build deep resentment in your partner towards you.
This point would sound a bit grim- but hear me out! Think of how short life is. Think of how you’re split-second away from living a completely different life or being in a completely different or negative situation.
Our life and existence should not be taken for granted. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. So, when you look at life as this very little time that will be over in a jiffy, you will slowly learn to accept that it is sometimes good to not take yourself seriously.
Have fun with your partner, make memories, because down the line you do not want to be a 70-something year old and contemplate what you could have done differently.
The last, but a very essential way to build a deep sense of emotional intimacy in your relationship is to sustain the spark that you had in the beginning of your relationship/marriage.
Oftentimes, people get married but the spark in their relationship is lost somewhere down the line. They do not hang out with each other anymore, they do not go on dates anymore, cuddling and romance does not come easily to them anymore- because “life gets in the way”. But that shouldn’t be the case. Life is what you’re living right now at this very moment.
If you want to build a strong foundation, consisting of emotional intimacy, you have to proactively keep the spark in your relationship alive. You have to understand that a candle cannot be lit on its own, you have to light the match. Similarly, in your relationship, you have to work continuously instead of putting your life on autopilot.
I would suggest planning date nights, movie nights and having fun. It doesn’t have to be something grand, but as long as you’re spending quality time together and enjoying, that’s all that matters.
To conclude, nurturing emotional intimacy in a romantic relationship is essential in order to build a strong and lasting bond. By prioritizing quality time together and addressing flaws with empathy and respect, you can deepen the connection and understanding with your partner. Ultimately, by actively acknowledging emotional connection and intimacy, is how you can cultivate a relationship that thrives on love, understanding, and mutual support. Your relationship is something which is meant to bring you peace and comfort. It shouldn’t be something you’d want to run away from.
