Why Relationships Matter

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Emotional intimacy requires respecting each partner's unique needs and desires.

Lack of accountability may signal waning emotional intimacy between couples.

Couples need to regularly assess what the relationship is asking of them to foster intimacy.

Talk of intimacy is typically reduced to sexuality, leaving emotional intimacy an obscure topic. But if we can’t talk about it, we can’t notice when it’s robust or compromised.

We can begin by defining emotional intimacy as the emotional unity of two separate and unique individuals. Working with this definition entails several responsibilities. The first is to remain conscious of your own uniqueness, expressed by your needs and desires, your beliefs and values. The second is to support your partner’s uniqueness. The third is the decision to build a relationship comprised of the components of your individual selves. (See my post, “10 Building Blocks of Emotional Intimacy.”)

Signs of a Lack of Emotional Intimacy

Even if we are committed to remaining emotionally intimate, life brings enough demands and distractions to lead us to wander away from that path. Here are some suggestions that wandering........

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