Building Intimacy Heals Relationships

Too often people in relationships feel disconnected and alone. Perhaps they have been hurt in the past and want to avoid being hurt in the future. The problem is that cutting themselves off from intimacy not only strains their relationships, but strains their health as well. They may have built up walls to protect themselves, but those walls prevent them from forming the very connection that they need for their relationships to flourish.

If we are lonely, depressed and isolated, we are more likely to get sick and possibly die prematurely. We are also more likely to sabotage our relationships. Intimacy, in the sense of feeling close and connected to others, not only feels wholesome, it is healing. Building bonds with others helps to fortify our immune system and it helps to strengthen our relationships. Vulnerability is what allows us to love and feel loved. It may be time to take down the walls and let love in.
The following are some suggestions for increasing the intimacy in your life:

Build Friendships
Make time for friendships, make some phone calls and get together. If you have a shortage of friends, try joining a sports team or an organization. If you want to have good friends, be a good friend and be yourself. True friends will like you for who you are.

Reach Out To Others
Volunteer. Give service. Find some way to pay it forward. Do random acts of kindness, especially with your own family. Reaching out to others can help take our focus off of our own problems and help us to feel more grateful for what we have.

Forgive Others and Yourself
Forgiveness is incredibly healing. It frees you from the huge burden of carrying resentment or shame. It softens your feelings, literally and figuratively healing your heart.

Meditate
Meditation can help to sooth your body, mind and soul. Besides the many philological benefits, there is the added benefit of inner peace and calm.

Start or Join a Support Group
Support groups can help you find others who have gone through or are going through the same thing you are. Being involved in a group can help you to feel that you are not alone. Having others, who understand what you are going through, to talk to can help you see things in a more positive light.

Make Love
Build intimacy with your partner so that you want to make love; then make love to strengthen those bonds of intimacy. Consensual, passionate lovemaking is one of the best ways to release oxytocin or the boding chemical in your brain.

Your relationship will benefit from an increase of intimacy in your life. As you increase the intimacy in your life, you will begin to feel more content. When you feel more bonded to others, you will tend to be more patient, generous and kind toward your partner. The more you feel close and connected to your friends, your family and especially your partner the healthier and happier you will be.