What is intimacy?
Easy…it’s sex, right? Yes and no.
Intimacy is closeness with another person. Sex is often the first thing that we think of when we hear the word intimacy. Most people don’t realize that there are many forms of intimacy that allow us to have an extraordinary marriage.
6 Forms of Intimacy
#Emotional Intimacy is closeness created through sharing our feelings, thoughts and desires. You have to be honest, first with yourself, regarding your feelings before you can share them with your spouse.
#Intellectual Intimacy involves a mutual understanding about the important areas or issues in your marriage. Perhaps you want to set goals for the next year, you want to make a budget, you want to raise your children with certain values, all of these involve discussion without fear of repercussion. It means that you have made your marriage a safe place for discussion.
#Spiritual Intimacy is shared religious beliefs and observed religious practices. This can be as simple as praying together, (although that’s not always easy) going to church together, or discussing spiritual issues as a couple. Ultimately your life experiences, within the foundation of your shared faith, will create and deepen your spiritual intimacy.
#Recreational Intimacy is being active together. Find those things that you like to do and do them with your spouse. Taking a walk together, make dinner, go to places together, go dancing together ..etc …do something with your spouse that allows you actively spend time together.
#Financial Intimacy is the sharing of your financial situation. Financial intimacy comes with developing a plan for your finances and being able to have open and honest communication with your spouse regarding money matters.
#Physical Intimacy is loving touch. Be it holding hands, a hug, a kiss or making love we humans were designed to want to be touched. Touch can communicate acceptance and love, a closeness that only the two of you have based on your shared experiences.
Creating intimacy involves:
consistent attention for one another and the relationship itself
respect for each another and the relationship in particular
regular, healthy verbal communication
regular expressions of caring and tenderness
honesty
understanding
encouragement
These six intimacies are vital to a successful marriage, a marriage based on safety and trust.
Easy…it’s sex, right? Yes and no.
Intimacy is closeness with another person. Sex is often the first thing that we think of when we hear the word intimacy. Most people don’t realize that there are many forms of intimacy that allow us to have an extraordinary marriage.
6 Forms of Intimacy
#Emotional Intimacy is closeness created through sharing our feelings, thoughts and desires. You have to be honest, first with yourself, regarding your feelings before you can share them with your spouse.
#Intellectual Intimacy involves a mutual understanding about the important areas or issues in your marriage. Perhaps you want to set goals for the next year, you want to make a budget, you want to raise your children with certain values, all of these involve discussion without fear of repercussion. It means that you have made your marriage a safe place for discussion.
#Spiritual Intimacy is shared religious beliefs and observed religious practices. This can be as simple as praying together, (although that’s not always easy) going to church together, or discussing spiritual issues as a couple. Ultimately your life experiences, within the foundation of your shared faith, will create and deepen your spiritual intimacy.
#Recreational Intimacy is being active together. Find those things that you like to do and do them with your spouse. Taking a walk together, make dinner, go to places together, go dancing together ..etc …do something with your spouse that allows you actively spend time together.
#Financial Intimacy is the sharing of your financial situation. Financial intimacy comes with developing a plan for your finances and being able to have open and honest communication with your spouse regarding money matters.
#Physical Intimacy is loving touch. Be it holding hands, a hug, a kiss or making love we humans were designed to want to be touched. Touch can communicate acceptance and love, a closeness that only the two of you have based on your shared experiences.
Creating intimacy involves:
consistent attention for one another and the relationship itself
respect for each another and the relationship in particular
regular, healthy verbal communication
regular expressions of caring and tenderness
honesty
understanding
encouragement
These six intimacies are vital to a successful marriage, a marriage based on safety and trust.
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