

{"id":23305,"date":"2018-04-19T10:59:17","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T10:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=23305"},"modified":"2025-07-03T11:41:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T11:41:28","slug":"repairing-emotional-intimacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/emotional-intimacy\/repairing-emotional-intimacy\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Effective Tips for Repairing Emotional Intimacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-23308 size-full\" title=\"Numerous things can be done to repair emotional intimacy\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/32.jpg\" alt=\"Numerous things can be done to repair emotional intimacy\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the factors that contribute significantly to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/keys-to-long-lasting-relationship-success\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">success of a relationship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is emotional intimacy. A lack of emotional closeness or trust can be pretty damaging for marriage; it can even lead to marriage failure!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Once lost, restoring intimacy in marriage can be pretty difficult.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> There is no need to lose hope, though. Numerous things can be done to rebuild emotional intimacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-is-emotional-intimacy\"><\/span><b>What is emotional intimacy?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional intimacy refers to closeness where both the partners in a relationship feel comfortably secure and loved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an emotionally <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/intimacy\/intimate-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">intimate relationship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, communication and trust play a key role. When you are close emotionally, you know all about your partner, including their fears, dreams, and hopes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even the findings from a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5987853\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> suggested that in both male and female partners in romantic, long-term relationships, higher levels of intimacy are associated with stronger sexual desire, which is, in turn, associated with higher odds for partnered sexual activity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/experts\/jenni-jacobsen\">Dr.&nbsp; Jennifer Jacobsen<\/a>, who has Ph.D. in psychology and is an expert in marriage and relationships, explains, intimacy involves much more than just sex,<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Couples need to be emotionally intimate, which can also enhance physical intimacy<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/emotional-intimacy\/repairing-emotional-intimacy\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is Emotional Intimacy?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Importance-of-emotional-intimacy\"><\/span><b>Importance of emotional intimacy&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without a deep <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/emotional-intimacy\/how-important-is-an-emotional-connection-in-a-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emotional connection<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the couple is incomplete and will likely not stay together for the long term.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good sex can only hold a relationship together for so long. There must be a base of emotional exchange for the couple to grow together, to know each other completely, and to allow each other the space to show vulnerability without the fear of being criticized or shamed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional intimacy allows a couple to be 100 % authentic with each other and still feel loved and safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional intimacy is vital in marriage, as it enhances lovers&rsquo; spiritual, physical, and psychological bond.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The level of a couple&rsquo;s emotional closeness is where this article centers. So, how important is an emotional connection in marriage?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The importance of intimacy or emotional bonding can not be emphasized enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A solid emotional connection fosters feelings of comfort, security, refuge, and mutual support between couples. In contrast, a lack of emotional intimacy leads to communication problems, helplessness, and loneliness in a relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, for those looking for a definite answer to the question, &ldquo;Is intimacy important in a relationship?&rdquo; emotional intimacy is the best way for couples to express their love for each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Emotional-intimacy-examples\"><\/span><b>Emotional intimacy examples<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The greater the emotional intimacy, the more fulfilling the relationship and marriage will be. With that said, you may have trouble pinpointing the characteristics of an emotionally intimate couple. You know that&rsquo;s what you want but aren&rsquo;t sure how to create emotional intimacy in your relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YrrIVqKxTdE?si=KL-KfYQaF5-S4XQp\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">&#65279;<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"subscribeYT_highlight\"><div class=\"subscribe_channel\">\r\n            <div class=\"subscribe_text\">Join millions <span class=\"sub_text1\">building healthier, happier<\/span> <span class=\"sub_text2\"> relationships.<\/span><\/div>\r\n            <a class=\"subscribe-btn-in-content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@Marriagedotcom?sub_confirmation=1\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n            <img src=\"\/images\/youtube_icon_small.png\" class=\"icon-left\" alt=\"YouTube\">\r\n            <span>Subscribe<\/span>\r\n            <img src=\"\/images\/bell_icon_new.svg\" class=\"icon-right\" alt=\"Extra Icon\">\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To identify some key examples of emotionally intimate couples, let&rsquo;s dive into what it looks like and then how to build emotional intimacy:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Openness<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotionally intimate couples are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7459658\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">open and vulnerable<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to each other. There are no barriers to allowing their partner to break through; they offer their heart and soul to each other without hesitation.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To create a vulnerable and open atmosphere in your relationship, you must lead by example.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would be best if you offered a big piece of your own heart for your partner to open their heart to you. It will show them that you are willing to put yourself out there, even if it means getting hurt.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without risking your heart and soul, you won&rsquo;t experience the most profound connection. You may be protecting yourself by keeping your guard up, but you never really let your spouse or partner into your world.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Honesty and compassion<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Openness can only come through honesty within the relationship. The &ldquo;it&rdquo; couple you envisioned at the beginning of this article has learned that over time. When they speak to each other, they do so with a compassionate heart but an honest tongue.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There may be some harsh truths that need to be said, but they can be told in a way that doesn&rsquo;t crush the other person. The only way to grow closer and truly foster emotional intimacy is by being truthful with one another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would help if you led from the front to create an honest and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7211602\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">compassionate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dialogue with your partner.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coming into the room with agitation and fury will never allow honesty to flourish. Come from a place of empathy and compassion, and you will become closer with each conversation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/experts\/jenni-jacobsen\">Dr. Jacobsen<\/a> explains<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Empathy is an essential building block of emotional closeness.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/emotional-intimacy\/repairing-emotional-intimacy\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Honesty in a Relationship Is So Important<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>3. Physical touch<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the physical piece of a relationship is its own realm of intimacy, it&rsquo;s important to highlight the magnitude of touch in transmitting an emotion. A simple touch can say a whole lot and communicate plenty of emotion.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.767908\/full\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is not just something that passes through your lips; emotionally intimate couples use their bodies to let their partner know how they feel about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To bring a more intimate physical touch into your relationship, start being more intentional about how you use it with your partner. . Don&rsquo;t think that your physical touch should only reside in the bedroom.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thinking about &ldquo;How to be more intimate with your partner?&rdquo;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give more hugs, hold each other&rsquo;s hands, or even tickle your spouse if the opportunity presents itself. There is plenty of emotion that can be packed into a meaningful touch. Don&rsquo;t let that opportunity to get closer go to waste.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/physical-intimacy\/physical-touch-love-language\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the Physical Touch Love Language&reg;?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>4. Forgiveness<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couples that make it the longest and love the deepest are those who can forgive and do so authentically. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/pre-marriage\/6-basic-steps-to-getting-married\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being married to someone<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a lifelong commitment, and people are bound to make mistakes. As humans, we are imperfect. It just comes with the territory.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79380\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/New-Project-2022-07-20T150231.495.jpg\" alt=\"Happy couple on a romantic date\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a couple&rsquo;s intimacy to flourish, forgiveness must be at play. If they never forgave each other, that would create distance and resentment between them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3156929\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows that forgiveness is connected to higher levels of relationship satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with most of these attributes and examples of emotional intimacy, forgiveness must be modeled before your partner gets on board. Forgive them for something that you&rsquo;ve been holding a grudge for.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let that resentment roll off your shoulders, and open yourself up to your partner like you haven&rsquo;t ever before. Show them that they are forgiven, and they&rsquo;ll be more likely to forgive you in feeling that weight lifted off their shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/forgiveness\/the-importance-of-forgiveness-in-a-marriage\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Significance and Importance of Forgiveness in a Marriage<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15-ways-to-improve-emotional-intimacy\"><\/span><b>15 ways to improve emotional intimacy<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signs of a lack of emotional intimacy are easily recognizable and include hidden emotions, secrets, lack of trust, and poor communication.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following are some intimacy tips for repairing emotional intimacy, as well as strengthening it:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Work on yourself first<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to repair emotional intimacy if you are ridden with a lack of self-assurance and don&rsquo;t exude confidence?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bitter pill of truth is that you can&rsquo;t enjoy emotional intimacy in marriage since a lack of self-esteem affects your relationship with your spouse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you feel bad about yourself, your insecurities fuel <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/how-to-solve-repetitive-marital-conflicts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arguments and conflicts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and you won&rsquo;t be able to respond positively to your partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&rsquo;re wallowing in despair, you aren&rsquo;t going to affect positive change. The first step will include attending the gym, taking a class, baking a pie, or seeing a therapist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever it takes to boost your self-confidence, self-worth, and personal happiness &ndash; will be a crucial instrument in your marriage and building emotional intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some say that the happiest couples lead their own individual lives, have individual interests, and are generally self-satisfied and happy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key word here is individual. Go out and find yourself, and you will find the definite answer to how to bring intimacy back into a relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Spend time together<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wondering how to restore intimacy?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most basic and essential thing for repairing emotional intimacy is reevaluating the time you spend together. The amount you spend is not the only thing that matters; you also need to take care of how you spend it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For one person, watching a TV show you love might be quality time; however, for the other person, this might not count. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This also doesn&rsquo;t mean that you must always do something special, such as taking time to go on a date night or taking a vacation to be close again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Couples experiencing a lack of closeness do need to spend a lot of time together to re-establish that emotional connection.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can be together; there is no need to talk or be engaged in an exciting activity constantly. Simple spending time with each other can also bring about a sense of closeness.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/how-to-solve-repetitive-marital-conflicts\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11 Ways to Spend Some Quality Time With Your Partner<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>3. Take a break from electronics<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repairing emotional intimacy depends primarily on the quality of interaction. While texting is a great way to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/8-tips-to-improve-communication-in-your-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">keep communicating<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it distracts a person from real intimacy since there isn&rsquo;t any one-on-one interaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, make sure to switch off all electronics, game consoles, tablets, cell phones, computers, and television, when you guys sit together. Instead, make a habit of conversing about your day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79384\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/New-Project-2022-07-20T150023.735.jpg\" alt=\"Man playing guitar with girl\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An effective way to ensure electronics don&rsquo;t get in the way is to put them in a box and not open them before spending at least two hours of quality time together.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/ways-to-have-a-quality-time-with-your-partner\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11 Ways to Spend Some Quality Time With Your Partner<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>4. Do something fun together<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to improve emotional intimacy is to list everything you love doing together. Then, once the list is made, take time to do all the things you listed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spending time together this way can help build experiences and memories that can drastically strengthen emotional intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can&rsquo;t figure out what to do together, think back to when you were newlyweds and how you used to spend time there. Regardless of your chosen activities, you must ensure that you have something fun daily.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/fun-and-romantic-games-for-couples\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">35 Fun and Romantic Games for Couples<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>5. Value what you have<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your effort and emotional investment directly reflect how much you truly value your relationship. The effort, unlike sentiment, cannot be faked; it can only be witnessed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An effort is exhibited through many factors, including the time and manner you spend with your mate, your attempts at meeting your mate&rsquo;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts\/dp\/080241270X\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expectations<\/span><\/a>,<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and your continued cultivation of spiritual and intellectual intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>6. Validation is key<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Validating one&rsquo;s mate is conveying to the partner that we understand what they are saying or feeling. It&rsquo;s about seeing things from their perspective, even if we don&rsquo;t share the same perspective. In the end, it&rsquo;s their truth, and we are simply showing that we believe that they believe it.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As such, empathy is a fundamental component of validation. What better way to activate an emotional bond than to listen to your mate, without ridicule or judgment, and to show them that you hear where they are coming from on a particular subject?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>7. Practice being vulnerable<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get to validation, one of the mates has to be vulnerable enough to express their thoughts and feelings first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79337\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/New-Project-2022-07-17T210121.739.jpg\" alt=\"Gay couple sleeping together\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An unwillingness to be vulnerable can be a significant roadblock to enhancing emotional intimacy, limiting the sharing of a wide array of emotions, thoughts, and experiences. It must be addressed if your goal is to feel closer to your mate.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the ways you can learn to be vulnerable is to take the necessary steps to heal from past hurts and traumas.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/benefits-of-vulnerability-in-relationships\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16 Powerful Benefits of Vulnerability in Relationships<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>8. Be more romantic<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being romantic means you perform small but thoughtful gestures that symbolize your love.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giving love notes, cooking a romantic dinner, or presenting them with a wrapped gift for no other reason than to say &ldquo;I love you&rdquo; are examples of romantic behavior and go a long way in rebuilding intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To enhance emotional intimacy, don&rsquo;t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone, exercise some creativity, and then stick with what works.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/how-to-add-romance-to-a-relationship\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 Ways on How to Be Romantic in Marriage<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>9. Try intimacy-building exercises<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many couples remain physically attracted to one another but encounter difficulty connecting due to a lack of emotional intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are the one who believes your relationship lacks an emotional connection, try these six exercises to give it a boost.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven breaths<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gazing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversational connection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memorize by touch<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Five things<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hug like there&rsquo;s no tomorrow<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3><b>10. Be more expressive<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientific evidence supports the physical power words have over our minds and bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So then, if you have the choice to speak either positively or negatively to your significant other, how much more likely will you be to speak words of life?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately<\/span><b>, in times of frustration or anger, it is easy to overlook our words&rsquo; power and use harsh ones.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When being more attentive to the words that leave your mouth, you can encourage emotional intimacy by creating a safe and protected place for your loved one to be open and honest.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>11. Be more positive<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let go of the need to be correct, the need to tell your partner what to do, the need to point out his faults and weaknesses, and the need to keep score.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking away these emotional intimacy blockades will give your partner positive, supportive, and kind feedback.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Check out this video to learn more about the power of positivity:<\/em><br><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XKd4myzZ6RQ\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><b>12. Take care of your health<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look after your appearance; being stylish sometimes for fun can be good for yourself and the relationship. It will give your spouse the added excitement they didn&rsquo;t ask for, but they will be glad it is there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you look like something special, then you will be perceived as something special; it is as simple as that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>13. Live in the moment<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the simplest ways to increase emotional intimacy with your partner is to focus your full attention on him when he speaks to you. Put down your phone, and stop typing on the computer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are standing at the sink doing dishes, stop, turn your body towards him, and look him in the eye while listening. You will be amazed at how the closeness factor increases with this one little tip.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>14. Address issues as they arise<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Couples who harbor resentment or anger do damage to their emotional intimacy baseline.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you may not be able to immediately have a tough conversation due to children being present or your spouse being away on a business trip, you can at least say that you would like to discuss the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;When you get back, let&rsquo;s schedule a moment to check in about&hellip;.&rdquo; is enough to get it on the radar. Don&rsquo;t just push it down, thinking it will go away. That is an intimacy-destroyer.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79248\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/New-Project-2022-07-08T150300.969.jpg\" alt=\"Couple arguing on stairs\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want to keep your communication channels open and flowing to maintain and increase your feelings of intimacy with each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/8-common-problems-in-married-life\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25 Common Marriage Problems Faced by Couples &amp; Their Solutions<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>15. Be generous in unexpected ways<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to double your sense of emotional intimacy instantly?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surprise your spouse with some unexpected generosity. Take over a task they usually would do, like picking up the dry-cleaning or taking the car in for an oil change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be sure to tell them so they can cross that off their to-do list.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you aren&rsquo;t usually a flower person, pick up a lovely bouquet on your way home, &ldquo;just because I love you and I know you love roses.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These out-of-the-ordinary acts of generosity help create more emotional intimacy as they are so unexpected and appreciated.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-bottom-line\"><\/span><b>The bottom line<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter who you are, marriage takes work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take stock of your married life now and then, and ask yourself if you are satisfied with the emotional intimacy you have. For all those looking for the answer to the question, &ldquo;What is emotional intimacy in marriage,&rdquo; your question is answered here.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it has started to slip, deal with things now and nurture the relationship over time. Improve your emotional intimacy with your spouse, and you&rsquo;ll be one of the couples that can make the marriage work.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the factors that contribute significantly to the success of a relationship is emotional intimacy. A lack of emotional closeness or trust can be pretty damaging for marriage; it can even lead to marriage failure! Once lost, restoring intimacy in marriage can be pretty difficult. There is no need to lose hope, though. Numerous things can be done to rebuild emotional intimacy.&nbsp;&nbsp; What is emotional intimacy? Emotional intimacy refers to closeness where both the partners in a relationship feel comfortably secure and loved. In an emotionally intimate relationship, communication and trust play a key role. When you are close <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":675,"featured_media":23308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[2529],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23305"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/675"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23305"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110590,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23305\/revisions\/110590"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}