Trust and intimacy.
Besides love, these two things are what keep romantic relationships strong.
But how do you create trust and intimacy in a new relationship? Or how do you bring back trust and closeness in a relationship that’s struggling?
Romantic relationships are tricky to figure out.
But there are things you can do, like working on trust and intimacy.
So, here’s how to build trust and intimacy in a relationship:
1. Practice Open Communication
In any relationship, it’s important to communicate clearly and honestly.
This doesn’t mean you have to share every single thought you have. Instead, it’s about expressing your feelings and thoughts without worrying about being judged. It’s about being able to speak the truth without being afraid of the consequences.
Communication can be as simple as asking your partner if everything is okay when you notice they’re not acting like themselves.
It can also be as meaningful as sharing your goals and dreams, or even discussing difficult topics like past traumas.
Don’t shy away from awkward conversations, like talking about your desires and needs in the bedroom.
Make sure to have open conversations regularly. Check in with each other often to talk about how your relationship is going and address any problems you might have.
But remember, effective communication isn’t just about talking. It’s also about listening to your partner and making them feel understood.
Keep in mind that communication goes both ways, so make sure to listen as much as you speak.
2. Be Consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to building trust in a relationship.
Your partner’s trust in you grows over time based on how you behave. So, if you consistently do what you say you will and keep your promises, you’ll earn and keep their trust.
It’s important not to be inconsistent.
For example, don’t shower them with affection one week and then ignore them the next. And don’t cancel plans when you’ve promised to be there.
Be reliable. Make sure your actions match your words.
But there’s more:
Consistency can also improve intimacy in your relationship.
For instance, having regular date nights can help. Grab your calendars and start planning some special time together.
3. Be Comfortable Being Vulnerable
It can be scary and even embarrassing to show someone your true self without holding back.
Sharing our fears and insecurities isn’t always easy.
And admitting our flaws can be even harder.
But here’s how it works:
When you’re comfortable being open with your partner, it shows them two important things:
- You trust them to see the real you without judgment.
- It’s okay for them to be open with you too.
Once you both get past the initial discomfort, you’ll find these moments strengthen your bond.
Speaking of being vulnerable, let’s talk about losing trust and intimacy in a relationship.
It’s tough. It can make you want to give up on love.
But you already have everything you need to rebuild trust and intimacy.
Building trust and intimacy takes effort.
Without it, we risk ending up in loveless relationships or endless frustration.
4. Give And Receive Emotional Support
Emotional support means standing by your partner through thick and thin.
In everyday life, it might involve giving them a warm hug when they’re feeling sad or simply listening when they need to talk after a tough day.
Being emotionally supportive could also mean staying awake with them if they have a deadline or going for a short run together to help them relax before an important event.
However you choose to show it, making sure your partner knows you’re there for them, and they’re there for you, helps to build trust in your relationship.
By being a source of comfort for your partner, you strengthen the emotional connection between you both.
5. Respect Each Other’s Boundaries
In your relationship, it’s important to have your own comfort zones.
Think about it this way:
Your relationship is one of those zones, but it shouldn’t be the only one.
Here’s why:
In a healthy relationship, both of you should recognize and respect each other’s comfort zones, even outside of the relationship.
When you establish boundaries and respect each other’s individuality, you’re showing your partner that you value their needs.
It might seem strange, but giving your partner space to grow as a person actually makes your relationship stronger.
Consider this:
As you both grow individually, you’ll admire each other more. And, supporting each other’s personal growth will deepen the intimacy between you.
6. Practice The Art Of Forgiveness
Mistakes happen all the time, just like things change. So, forgiving each other is super important for building trust and intimacy in a relationship.
I’m not saying you should forgive every single mistake, though.
But if you keep holding onto every little thing your partner does wrong without forgiving them, it might be better to just break up.
So, how does forgiveness help build trust and intimacy?
Think about it like this:
When your partner messes up and says sorry, forgiving them shows that you’re ready to keep trusting them. It’s like saying, “It’s okay, let’s move on. I trust you won’t do it again.”
If your partner also wants to keep the trust strong, they’ll do their best to avoid making the same mistake again. And sometimes, they’ll go the extra mile to earn back your trust, which usually makes your bond even stronger.
Sounds good, right?
7. Spend Quality Time
Having time together is another important factor in making trust and intimacy stronger in a romantic relationship.
We mentioned this briefly earlier when we talked about being consistent.
Let’s bring it up again to highlight that when you spend time with your romantic partner, it’s more about the quality than the quantity.
Let’s break it down with two situations:
- You spend the whole afternoon with your partner, but you’re busy Facetiming friends, and your partner is playing Xbox.
- You have lunch together before going back to work. During that time, you talk about your day and make plans for later.
Which scenario do you think helps build a closer bond?
The second one, right?
That settles it.
Quality time together leads to intimacy.
8. Express Your Appreciation – Always
Regularly showing appreciation to your partner helps create a positive atmosphere for strengthening trust and intimacy.
Expressing gratitude is crucial for maintaining close bonds.
Moreover, a study revealed that partners who frequently expressed gratitude were more likely to have longer-lasting relationships.
But wait, there’s more:
Another study involved observers noting the levels of gratitude among couples.
They found that partners who were thankful seemed more connected and attentive compared to those who expressed appreciation less often.
So, have you thanked your partner today?
9. Get Physical
Have you ever heard of oxytocin, also known as the “cuddle chemical,” the “bonding hormone,” or the “love hormone”?
Oxytocin is a chemical made by your brain. It’s mainly there to help women during childbirth, but it also helps us build trust and strengthen our bonds with loved ones.
Here’s why it’s important:
When you hug, cuddle, kiss, or even feel aroused or have an orgasm, your body releases oxytocin. So, the more physical affection you share, the more oxytocin you release, making your bonds and trust stronger.
But before you rush to hug your partner, there’s one more thing to cover in our guide on building trust and intimacy in relationships.
10. Keep Learning From The Process
Creating trust and intimacy takes time, and guess what?
You might make mistakes on the way.
But don’t worry, it’s all part of the journey.
The important thing is to learn from those mistakes with your partner.
The more you learn, the better you’ll be as a partner, and the closer and more trusting your relationship will become.
So, embrace the ups and downs, and keep on learning.
It’s A Lifetime Commitment, Not A One-Night Stand
At this point, you can see that making a strong, close relationship takes time and effort.
It’s not something that happens overnight.
You need to put in the work every day.
Building trust and intimacy takes patience and understanding.
But when you do it, you’ll have a bond that’s stronger than ever before.
So, why wait?
Go give your partner a hug!
