Deepening Intimacy: Strategies for a Closer Connection

Let’s face it; our lives are far from perfect. Due to stress, bad habits, and the monotony of everyday life, that profound connection with our partner may seem less permanent. In worst-case scenarios, it could break and turn into a distant memory. Working on deepening intimacy in your relationship is a non-negotiable.

The good news is that you can reignite the passion and grow closer to each other with some work and deliberate thought.

I’m here to help you build a more secure and intimate bond with your partner by walking you through some techniques for improving your relationship’s connection.

Getting a Grip on Deepening Intimacy

Emotional closeness is a complex and vital subject, so let’s dig in.

Emotional closeness manifests itself in partnerships when one person makes the other feel seen and understood. There’s more at play here than just taking pleasure in one another’s presence or the sensual aspects of a relationship.

A lot of couples have asked me, “How can I become more intimate with my spouse?” In my opinion, vulnerability, trust, and open communication are the only ways to build that elevated degree of connection.

I know that being vulnerable may be terrifying. It entails exposing yourself to potential injury by displaying genuine emotions.

However, being open and honest fosters stronger bonds.  One way to strengthen an emotional bond with a spouse is to relax your guard and allow them to do the same.

The development of psychological closeness in a relationship can only be achieved by building trust.

When you trust your spouse to want what’s best for you and won’t purposefully harm you, you may open up and share your emotions.

An emotionally close connection is more than just a “nice to have,” and I want it to be very evident. One thing that any relationship needs is intimacy.

The key that unlocks the secret of a love relationship, as opposed to a casual acquaintance, is a profound emotional bond. What I mean by this is having a spouse who is there for you through the good times and the bad, the vulnerable and the difficult.

A feeling of security and safety may be achieved by emotional connection in a relationship.  An unbreakable tie forms when one partner really gets the other and is there for them no matter what.

However, a strong bond between couples is about more than simply getting through tough times.  As people and as a relationship, you may both benefit from this kind of bond.

Personal development is an inevitable aspect of every relationship when people are able to open up about their changing wants, needs, concerns, and hopes and get acceptance and empathy in return.

With a companion who will cheer you on no matter what, it pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Recognizing Individual and Emotional Requirements

When it comes to your relationship, let’s speak about being honest about what you need. You can’t assume your spouse has some innate talent for making you feel loved and satisfied; it’s just unrealistic. Recognizing your own needs is the first step!

A client of mine, whom I was working with a few years ago,  suffered from chronic relationship miscommunication. They were about to give up due to a repeat cycle of frustration, anxiety, and depression. Fortunately, their core issue was resolvable.  They simply weren’t expressing their emotional demands clearly until we probed more.

When they realized this, it was like a light bulb went on, as if they were hit in the face with an eureka effect. They soon discovered that helping others was the key to meeting their fundamental desire for worthiness.

The partner had been lavishing them with presents, but they were falling flat on their faces since they didn’t mean anything. Every aspect was transformed by just one tweak!

I recommend taking an online test like the Emotional Index Quiz to begin your own path of self-discovery.  By providing a framework for describing your ideal relationship emotions, these tests help you learn more about your partner’s wants and needs.

Methods for Growing Closer to Your Spouse

Intimacy thrives on open communication—that is, talks that are neither rushed nor biased.  Everyday worries should take a back seat to meaningful heart-to-hearts.  Get away from it all and focus on each other in a quiet spot.

The important thing is that everyone has an opportunity to be heard.

Make an effort to listen actively!

Everyone can hear their partners, but how well do we listen?  Keeping one’s whole focus while listening is called active listening.

I understand how hard it may be to express vulnerability and connection.  We may feel unsafe exposing those aspects of ourselves that are less than ideal.  But always keep in mind that being vulnerable encourages the same from others.  Sharing your worries, fears, and aspirations with your partner can help them feel more at ease opening up to you.  Do little at first if you feel overwhelmed.

Try talking about just one concern you’re holding instead of keeping them bottled up.  Just putting those feelings into words might help them seem less overwhelming and more supported.

Unleashing the Power of Intimacy

Developing a close bond with someone might be challenging at times. Whether it’s a fear of rejection or repressed emotions, we all carry around baggage that might hinder our ability to open up.  Let’s go down a few of those typical roadblocks.

Here are tried-and-true methods for strengthening your relationship’s emotional bond and removing obstacles to intimacy.

Embrace the Power of Acceptance

Do you know how deep the fear of rejection goes? There’s this nagging fear that you could suffer consequences if you reveal your own self.

However, genuine intimacy is also thwarted when one maintains a vigilant defense. It begins with self-compassion, and breaking the pattern is difficult. No matter how flawed you may be, you still deserve love and connection.

Recognize Past Injuries

New partnerships might be overshadowed by old emotional scars. It may be very difficult, if not impossible, to trust someone again after suffering betrayal or desertion.

Your spouse will be better able to understand and support you while you work through your triggers if you are honest with them about your history.

Keep It Up!

Building closeness does not happen overnight but rather through little, consistent actions.  Begin by exposing yourself in little ways.  In discussion, you should open yourself a little more than normal.

It may seem uncomfortable at first, but couples should try to be receptive to their partner’s efforts at connection.  Above all else, I want couples to know that developing emotional closeness takes time and effort, but the wait is well worth it.

Fostering a Close Bond Between Married Couples

Everyday life’s obligations, including employment, maybe children, and other commitments, may make it easy to go into autopilot. Here’s a way to disrupt the trend:

If you are married, here are some ways to deepen your bond with your partner.

Dedicating Quality Time with Purpose

Now that we’ve established that deliberate quality time is important, let’s explore it further.  Because it’s all too tempting to settle for a bare minimum of cooperation rather than cultivating a deep connection when you’re both always on the go. To make the most of the times spent together, consider these:

Pay close attention to your spouse while you’re spending quality time together. Turn off your phone, don’t check email, and put off doing housework, and say to you partner “You matter more than anything in life.”

Taking the time to connect with your partner in such a manner will do wonders for your relationship.

Consider pursuits that inspire lively discussion and mirth.  Take a trip to a nearby attraction, make a new dish, or play a board game.

The question game should be reinstated.  As corny as it sounds, I understand.  Still, go back to when you were first dating and really couldn’t get enough information about one other.  Curiosity has no bounds in a relationship.

Pose interesting “would you rather” inquiries, inquire about your partner’s hopes and fears, or ask them open-ended questions about their aspirations.  What you find out could surprise you.

Expressing Gratitude

a general “thanks for all you do” is acceptable, expressing gratitude with particular details makes it more meaningful.

Rather than just stating, “Thanks for dinner,” try something like, “I loved how you added X ingredient in the pasta tonight, it was so delicious!” This way you may demonstrate that you are attentive to their efforts.

Think about the way they indicate their affection.  What makes your significant other feel loved the most: receiving presents, compliments, physical contact, or quality time?  They will feel more noticed and appreciated if you communicate your appreciation in a way that is consistent with their main love language.

Pleasant surprise.  Of course, well-thought-out expressions of gratitude are fantastic.  However, even the smallest of unexpected events may have a significant influence. Send them a random text message to let them know you’re thinking about them, put a kind note in their lunch, or do something they generally hate to do. Even when life becomes hectic, these little gestures of kindness keep the gratitude fire burning.

Showing Physical Affection

On occasion, a physical stimulus is necessary to initiate emotional closeness between partners. Beyond its sexual component, concentrated physical love may be a powerful bonding tool.

One of the most effective ways to communicate, touch may lead to a profound bond that goes well beyond the bedroom.

Be kind and non-sexual at first.  All day long, sprinkle in some more relaxed, loving touches.  Gently hold hands, provide impromptu embraces, and provide a quick back massage while they prepare the meal.  Delicate touches like these normalize love and may help reawaken a long-lost physical connection.

Set aside a certain time. This may not seem very romantic, but it’s often essential due to hectic schedules.  Make time to unwind together by taking a bath, massaging each other, or snuggling together.  Without expecting it to lead to sex necessarily, concentrate on exploring touch and enjoying your partner’s body.

Honest dialogue is essential.  In many cases, what’s really needed are frank conversations on wants, preferences, and any changes in requirements.

Handling Disagreements with Compassion

Arguments are inevitable in partnerships.  They are typical when you are navigating life with someone. However, how you manage such conflicts will determine the strength of your emotional connection.

In couples therapy, I advise partners to do the following to handle disagreement in a healthy way so that they may both emerge stronger:

Stop seeing every argument as a fight and instead make it a goal to see things from your partner’s point of view.

Instead of escalating tension, use “I” statements: blaming others and making accusations do nothing except make things worse.  Express yourself and what you need by using “I” phrases. Asking, “I feel disrespected when the dishes are left out, could we work on a system that feels fair?” instead of “You always leave your dishes in the sink!” encourages empathy and leads to problem-solving.

Conflict, keep in mind, maybe a chance for development. When approached with mutual regard and an open mind, arguments have the power to forge closer bonds and bring partners closer together.

Wrap-Up on Deepening Intimacy Between Partners

To end this piece, I want to stress that becoming closer to someone is more of a process than an endpoint. Some days will be smooth sailing with your connection, and other days may be more difficult.  It’s all about consistently deciding to value intimacy with your spouse.

Keep in mind the tactics we covered:

  • Caring for one another during disagreements,
  • Intentionally spending quality time together,
  • Showing gratitude throughacts of affection, and
  • Encouraging physical closeness.

These are not things to check off a list; they are habits that should be woven into your relationship over time.

Intimacy is something you cultivate as a couple.  Communicate your wants and needs honestly, rejoice in your successes, and be patient throughout the less-than-romantic times.

Also, consider going to couples therapy for advice if you’re stuck. Changing one’s viewpoint and acquiring new communication skills may sometimes be life-altering.

The profound, satisfying connection that we all want in our relationships does not, in the end, arrive by chance.  It takes deliberate work, receptive hearts, and a steadfast conviction that your relationship is valuable enough to engage in daily.

Sources

  1. https://www.verywellmind.com/couples-therapy-definition-types-techniques-and-efficacy-5191137
  2. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-couples
  3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/therapy/how-does-couples-therapy-work
  4. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/does-marriage-counseling-work/

 

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