“Love is a constant struggle”. This love quote says it all when it comes to defining what love is. Love encompasses a whole range of positive and powerful emotional and spiritual states, from the deepest personal virtue to the most primitive form of physical pleasure. In order for love to have substance and meaning, love needs three essential ingredients: a commonality of interest, an emotional investment and a readiness to put effort into the relationship.
Commonality of interest refers to the emotional bond between two people that transcends physiological differences and brings them together. When love is present, it often takes the form of a shared experience of deep feelings and connectedness. Connectivity is a powerful force that can motivate people to work towards achieving a healthy relationship. If feelings are present that are similar to those experienced by your partner, then you have a good foundation for a healthy relationship.
Emotional investment refers to how much you value your partner’s thoughts, opinions, ideas and feelings. You invest in them as if they were someone special and have dedicated your life to them. This can be based purely in thought or it can involve a real relationship and even a past friendship. The more you value your partner’s thoughts and ideas, the more attached you become to them and the stronger your affection for them grows. The stronger this bond, the easier it is to make time for each other.
Finally, you have to be willing to put the time and effort into a healthy relationship. It doesn’t happen automatically, but when couples are committed to each other and are open to connecting with each other on an intimate level, love blossoms. Romantic love is not the same as sexual love because there is a different emotional investment involved. However, when these bonds are cultivated, romantic love can develop into a more fulfilling and meaningful form of connection than ever before.
Once you are clear on all of these ingredients, you can begin to take actions towards developing intimacy with one another. The key to building intimacy successfully lies with communication and being willing to listen to your partner. Communication is key to any relationship whether you’re starting from scratch or have been in a long-term relationship.
Couples who have not explored their emotions or haven’t had a chance to spend time building strong emotional bonds will sometimes enter into a sexual relationship before they are ready. This can lead to serious problems down the line. In a healthy relationship, couples are comfortable expressing their true emotions and, hopefully, they will have an easier time being honest with each other.
