6 Forms of Intimacy to Build a Strong Marriage

Marital Intimacy is more than sex.

It’s not only what happens between the sheets. There are many forms of intimacy. All these can impact your strength and commitment in marriage. Every relationship needs intimacy. Whether it is physical intimacy or emotional intimacy. Without intimacy your relationship will slowly wither away and decay.

You should be intimate with your partner, both physically and emotionally. You cannot expect to have a strong relationship with your partner without intimacy. Intimacy is what will hold your relationship together when things get rough. Intimacy is like the anchor that holds your love in place when life gets messy.

All humans require intimacy. Simple acts such as holding hands, cuddling or kissing are very important in a relationship. These simple actions let your partner know that you care about them and are there for them. But did you know that there are many other forms of intimacy as well?

Here are the six forms of intimacy that you should know about in order to build an even stronger marriage. If you can incorporate all of these types into your relationship you will soon notice that your marriage will thrive. If you can strike the right balance between the different types it will surely help improve the relationship with your partner.

Physical Intimacy: In Love With Your Shape

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This is the type of intimacy that people usually think of when they hear the word “intimacy”. It’s about holding hands. Giving kisses. Making love. It is basically about being touched.

Touch is a very important factor in any relationship. From babies to adults, the touch is an important aspect of any relationship. We need a loving touch. Touch communicates love, kindness and acceptance. Touch can help create closeness in marriage.

Physical intimacy is basically about being passionate with each other, which can range from anywhere between hugging to cuddling on the couch. It also means being connected with your partner. You can tell when you have a strong physical bond that the both of you never physically disconnect from each other: you are open to each other’s touch.

Emotional Intimacy: Profound Love

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Emotional intimacy, which is all about sharing feelings and desires, is another type of intimacy. It is about being yourself with your partner. Openly sharing your feelings can make you feel vulnerable. Being with someone where you can be vulnerable is a good sign of strong emotional intimacy.

Another way to increase the emotional intimacy with your partner is to ask open-ended questions and really listen to your partner’s response. A good question to start with is: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What will my role be in your life then?”

Emotional intimacy is only possible when you are honest to yourself and your partner. When you are feeling emotionally disconnected it might indicate that you have not been totally honest – against yourself or your partner.

Disconnectedness can be a result of keeping a secret from your partner, or feeling upset about something your partner did.

Intellectual Intimacy: I Love Your Mind

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This kind of intimacy is a bit unknown. Intellectual intimacy is about being on the same page. You have a mutual understanding of the things that the two of you find important in your marriage, like raising your children with certain values. Having a strong intellectual intimacy means your marriage is a safe place for discussion.

You can improve your intellectual intimacy by reading a book together. It does not even matter whether it is fiction or nonfiction. Reading together can help you expand your vocabulary, open your mind up to new ideas and help you grind those gears in your brain.

But it is not only about books. In order for you two to increase your intellectual intimacy you can also have a meaningful conversation on your favorite songs or lyrics. Or you might just share your thoughts about life in general in order to grow closer to each other.

Another way to increase your intellectual intimacy is discussing places where you want to go, or things you want to do. This might not seem directly intellectual, but it can help get on the same page.

Spiritual Intimacy: Soulmates For Life

This kind of intimacy is about shared religious beliefs and religious practices. Praying together is a strong way to improve your spiritual intimacy. Or you could go to church together. But simply discussing religious issues can also help deepen your spiritual intimacy. You should pray together at least every other day in order to increase the spiritual intimacy in your marriage.

By sharing awe-inspiring moments together you can also increase your spiritual intimacy. As mentioned this could mean that you worship as a couple, but it can also mean that you go for a nice walk hand-in-hand in a geographically beautiful setting. By going back ‘to your roots’, in the lap of nature, the spiritual intimacy between you and your partner will get a boost.

Talking to your partner is another way to grow your spiritual intimacy. You can discuss what you think is important in a relationship and what you value the most. In turn your partner can also share his or her views on this matter.

Recreational Intimacy: Taking Time Out For Each Other

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It’s all about being active together, and once again this does not involve any action between the bedsheets. It’s about doing things together that you both enjoy. Even a simple 30-minute walk is a great way to improve the recreational intimacy in your relationship.

Another great way to improve intimacy in your relationship is playing sports together. Playing tennis against another couple can help strengthen the bond you have with your partner. You will both have the same sense of competition. It becomes ‘us’ versus ‘them’, which makes you and your partner feel more connected.

Another way of improving recreational intimacy is by going to the gym together. You can hold each other accountable and also motivate each other. It is a win-win for the both of you!

You can also take it easy and go for a nice, long walk along the beach.

Financial Intimacy: A Wealthy Marriage

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This kind of intimacy is a bit harder to understand. As money and love do not seem to be related that much. Financial intimacy is formed and strengthened when you and your partner develop a plan for your finances. This means that both of you commit to the same future plans. It also means that you should be open and honest about any financial issues.

Increasing financial intimacy also involves making a savings account and putting aside money for the things that you value most. Perhaps you and your partner have decided to create a savings account for your children? By committing to the same financial goals you both can drastically increase your intimacy in a way that you might not have expected.

Another way to increase financial intimacy is by spending money on the things you both value the most. It sounds like a no-brainer, but not for all married couples this is as easy as it sounds. Intimacy exercises to build a stronger marriage.