Deep connections, quality relationships – the experience of feeling seen, heard and understood brings us the greatest joy in life. Here are 5 tips to deepen intimacy in any relationship – a friendship, family or love relationship.
Our attachments and intimacy with others are bred through our vulnerabilities.
The meeting of our vulnerabilities is the sweet spot. This is where we have the ability to truly see one another. The experience of being seen and seeing is called mirroring. Psychologically, it is the bridge of intimacy and forges a strong bond (attachment) – knowing someone else will accept and be there for you, even (especially) in your weakest moments.
Take a risk of to be vunerable and open yourself up to share from the heart. What is happening under the surface of your life and the veneer of your persona? Tell your partner if you’re sad, afraid, hurt or emotional. Practice staying authentic and articulate about your emotional state and ask for understanding, tenderness or help.
In relationships we tend focus on ourselves and assume that our needs are more important than our partners.
Flip it. Just for this month, practice allowing your partner’s needs to take priority. What if their needs are just as (or more) important than your own?!?
Self-abandonment is not what I am suggesting. Assuming you have healthy boundaries, attune to what your partner wants or needs. Ask them. Let your partner take the lead. Where do they want to go to dinner? Where do they want to go on vacation? What do they want to do this weekend?
This is a Buddhist/yogic concept of expanding the definition of who you are to include the ‘other’. Widening our perception of Self to include another breeds understanding and union. Instead of using a relationship or looking at our partners as a means to meet our needs – we elevate into a selfless, giving, generous approach. Much like building a successful business or any join venture, ask:
Set aside 10-20 min. a day to tune in to each other in full presence (no cell phones or TV, please). A great time to do this is at night. Take 10 minutes each to reflect on the day. Listen athletically to each other and offer support or feedback. When you can manage, try to go to bed at the same time, cuddle and reflect out loud – What went well? What was disappointing or frustrating? What do you intend to create for the next day?
Practice gratitude together. Get in the habit of reflecting the positive and holding each other in positive regard so you mirror back to your partner their positive attributes. Encouragement and support changes our biochemistry. Consistency in authentic connection is the glue that keeps a relationship together. Commit to a daily check in.
See your partner anew. We evolve and change constantly. Our hopes, dreams and skills shift. When we’re in relationship, it’s tempting to view our partner through an old, outdated perspective – who they were, how they acted or what they wanted before. Give your man (or woman) the space, just like a child, to shapeshift, change, learn and grow. Tune into them – ask them “Where are you at today?” “What are you feeling/wanting/dreaming of?”
Try silently observing and allowing them to show you who they are. Open your eyes and your mind. This creates more spaciousness to feel held and supported in who we are authentically – today. Let yourself be surprised. Seek to learn something NEW about your partner everyday.
Bring more affection into your relationship. After years of listening to couples in therapy, I can tell you – it’s often (if not, usually) the smallest things that end up fracturing and eroding a relationship. Know the little things that your partner needs, wants or delights in.
Gentle touches, thinking what they might want from the grocery store or reaching out sending them a text or a note at work in support go a long way in building a foundation and reservoir of love.
I wrote a book recently on worshiping God as I am a Pastor and I wanted to know how to get permission to use some of your work in this article. It was beautiful and some of what you said can be used biblically as well. Thank you.
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Ashley,
Thank you for this video. I’ve been practicing giving more affection to my husband as well as putting his needs before mine recently and have noticed a real difference! I love these recommendations.
This is excellent advice and I plan on focusing on #2, putting my partner’s priorities first for a month. I have been so focused on getting a full commitment, that it’s colored everything in the relationship lately. I was even mad on Valentine’s Day when my boyfriend gave me roses. I do not want to be that type of person! I was disgusted with my own behavior but so locked into this idea that I am entitled to something that I haven’t received and have a right to be mad. There is no way that my bad attitude is going to result in anything good, so I would like to think that maybe we are exactly where we need to be right now. Or at least try to focus on that for a month!