Relationships are built on trust, honesty, openness, clarity, love, commitment, and intimacy. If you’ve had relationships without one or more of those magic ingredients, you probably remember that they weren’t very satisfying or successful. After reading the following article, you will understand more about the reasons why it is important to develop intimacy, especially in an intimate relationship.
Intimate – Intimacy
The word intimate already explains some of those reasons. Intimate means ‘well known, familiar, close’. Intimate relationships imply a very close connection.
Intimacy describes “close familiarity or friendship, closeness” and often refers to the intimate act of sexual intercourse.
Given the meaning of those two words, we now begin to glimpse the importance of intimacy. It must be present and therefore developed in a relationship from the beginning. Without it, we would not have true closeness or familiarity, which is one of the basic human needs, especially in relationships.
Developing intimacy is important because:
…create a secure environment:
When we develop intimacy we create a safe environment that allows vulnerability, being able to be oneself and being accepted as such.
…allows opening:
Once we feel safe, we allow ourselves to be more and more open with our partner. Sharing the most personal secrets of others unites us more.
…goes hand in hand with building trust:
The more we trust someone, the closer we let them come. Trust allows you to relax into the relationship, which subsequently opens you up to even greater intimacy.
…makes you get closer:
Although it is possible to have a sexual relationship without much intimacy, most of you have experienced the beauty of intimate closeness, where you merge in each other’s presence. Real intimacy allows you to be closer on a level that is beyond the physical.
… contributes to the duration of the relationship:
In my therapeutic work with couples I have yet to see a long-term relationship without any kind of intimacy, closeness, familiarity. The soul of a relationship will die without intimacy.
Remember that being physically intimate and having frequent sex does not necessarily mean that you are in a deeply intimate relationship. Intimacy develops over time and has less to do with sexual satisfaction than with deep and meaningful human intercourse.
If your current relationship lacks intimacy, you’ll notice it as “something missing.” You may want to read the article called: 10 ways to develop intimacy in your relationship.