Is Love Always a Romantic Relationship?
Love defines relationships and is the driving force in the formation of families, friendships, romantic attachments and all other human relationships. Love encompasses a broad range of positive and negative emotional and physical states, from the highest sublime ideal or virtue, to the most basic intimate pleasure, the emotional roller coaster that accompanies any relationship. It is a simple yet profound truth that love defines every relationship whether it is a platonic love that simply exists within the confines of a marriage contract or whether it is a passionate love that consumes our lives and emotions as we move through each day. Whatever the nature of your love there are some basic principles and guidelines that can help you ensure that the love that you share with your partner is the love that endures, grows and influences all aspects of your life, long after the romantic part of the relationship has faded completely out of sight.
Love is more than just a sensation generated by the exchange of bodily fluids. In fact love is a more complex and refined form of affection, when considered on an intellectual level. Love is not just the feeling you get when you are touched lovingly; it is also the knowledge of what it feels like to be loved in return. While sharing physical intimacy may be the beginning of your romantic relationship it is not the end and ultimately it is only the beginning. The relationship you begin with is only the beginning and will define who you are as you move into the realm of love and romance.
A primary foundation for the healthy development of any relationship is the shared love language between partners. In its most fundamental form this love language is expressed through the exchange of undivided attention, which is known as being in focus during the act of sex. Being in focus allows both partners to be fully present in each others lives and to experience the unconditional love, acceptance and companionship that naturally arise from such a shared focus. Without undivided attention the exchange of body heat or affection cannot occur and it is unlikely that any intimacy can develop. As a result the quality time together you two share will be greatly enhanced if you are able to devote full time to being in focus with one another. As such it is important that you allow for adequate time together for your romantic relationship to thrive.
Living a life focused upon the shared focus of attention and undivided attention is an excellent way to deepen your romantic relationship. The shared focus will lead to a greater depth and breadth of emotional expression which will naturally lend itself to an increased feeling of deep connectedness and security within the relationship. This emotional well-being will naturally lead to a greater sense of self-worth and personal worth, which in turn will increase the quality time you spend together. When you are in tune with who you are you automatically create an atmosphere of safety, security and peace within your relationships. As such the quality time you spend with your partner will likely be more intimate and meaningful than any time you might spend alone.
While we all know there are benefits to having romantic love with another person, there are also some very important negative aspects that can arise from pursuing this type of relationship. One of the negative aspects that many people experience is a lack of intimacy and affection. The negative emotions that come as a result of living in a romance are usually referred to as “distance”. In essence this means that while you may have strong feelings for your partner you are not sharing the time together you could be. A lack of intimacy can cause problems within the relationship and can eventually lead to a break up of the relationship.
The best way to avoid these difficulties in a relationship that is in love is to first become comfortable with being without your partner. In fact by becoming comfortable with your lack of intimacy you will be much happier in regards to sharing intimate moments with another person. If you are able to feel comfortable with the idea of being without your partner then you are well on your way to experiencing true love. It is never easy to form love with another person, but with the right attitude and a little bit of practice it can be done. Just keep in mind that when love is involved it takes time, patience and dedication in order to remain in love.