Intimacy and friendship are essential to a healthy romantic relationship since they are the backbone of the relationship itself. The backbone of any romantic relationship is based not only on love, but both intimacy and friendship. Each partner should be able to come into the relationship with the feeling that he or she is an equal to his or her partner. Additionally, both parties within the relationship should give and take equally. Never should any party give more than the other. This could cause resentment and loss of both intimacy and friendship, resulting in something much more damaging such as resentment.
A romantic relationship lacking in intimacy and friendship simply cannot exist very long without crumbling. Any relationship, especially a romantic relationship, takes a lot of work to sustain, as it is an ever-evolving entity that affects two people. Intimacy is key to the success of a romantic relationship since it is one of the deepest connections people can make. Being truly intimate with another person allows you to fully know that person and for her or him to truly know you.
Friendship is key to the success of a romantic relationship because many relationships start off as friendships. It is important for each partner to enjoy the company of his or her counterpart. Couples, like friends, should be able to speak freely to one another, feel comfortable with one another, and enjoy doing many of the same things.
Many couples experience relationship issues when they lose the intimacy and friendship that they once had together. Think about it; if you no longer felt comfortable with your partner and simply did not enjoy his or her company, would you want to continue the romantic relationship? Most people opt to separate at that juncture while others choose to engage in couples therapy.
Couples that actively seek to uphold and keep the intimacy and friendship alive between them maintain some of the most successful romantic relationships. Whether it is therapy or simply trying new things together, these couples can enjoy a lifetime of love with one another. One way to keep the relationship strong is to always make compromises. Even if you do not particularly enjoy an event or activity that your couple does, it is always a good idea to engage in that activity once in a while.
Compromising with your partner and discussing your feelings is a good way to keep the intimacy and friendship strong within a romantic relationship. Without these two key elements, it is quite likely that the relationship will fail.