This is a Continuing series of our examinations of the different types of intimacies that are described in the Choose Therapy post, 10 Types of Intimacy. We have looked at a couple of other types of intimacy because I understand that we men want intimacy. Yet, did you realize that there was more than just physical intimacy? I get a couple but there are a few that are just a little out there. Therefore it was a good thing to sit down and examine the examples of intimacy in a relationship. It would help you better understand an element that your wife needs so you both can have a better understanding of each other.
- Physical
- Emotional
- Intellectual
- Spiritual
- Experiential
- Social
- Creative
- Conflict
- Aesthetic
- Work
Understanding and accepting each other’s spiritual path. Now this often means finding a religion that both are able to follow but it can also mean that if one person has a change of beliefs. To have the ability to accept that your spouse is on a different path.
Encourage each other to grow and develop your core values based on your beliefs. This is possible even when one has lost their way in a religion and has gone agnostic or even atheistic.
I do struggle with this topic because it is easier if you both believe in the same religion and the same denomination is even better. Even the differences of denominations can often cause friction with each other because of slight differences in how one church believes versus another. So you have to be able to support and accept that there will be differences. You will have to find ways to compromise and allow for each belief to exist in a home.
So it stands to reason that when you and your wife and your kids all go to the same church you can actually have a better and stronger sense of spiritual intimacy.
How do you increase Spiritual Intimacy?
You have to allow for the discussions to happen. You are in a learning phase when you are talking to your spouse about what they believe. Digging into very personal beliefs so to criticize and mock the experiences of your wife will severely interfere with your desire to have a stronger connection.
Dont dismiss
How connected would you feel if your spouse told you what you believed was wrong or worse? You can unravel a marriage by dismissing a single string. First understand what a belief is.
A belief is a thought you perceive to be true.
Is it true? I don’t know. But will believe it till I have more information that I accept to the contrary.
Talk about your spiritual Journey
Marriage.com mentions that it will help you to have a stronger connection when you have a strong spiritual intimacy and you do that by sharing your spiritual journey.
Get curious and stay curious
Ask lots of Questions. If you want to get to know your wife the most, you ask questions over and over. Help her understand that you are interested in her and what she has to say. As before if it is something you don’t agree with instead of dismissing her, dig deeper and come to understand her belief. You may find that you both get to the same conclusion by taking different roads.
Find the questions that will open her heart.
Would you like a jump start on questions you could ask your spouse? Priming the pump of questions that you could ask while at a restaurant or sitting on the couch together?
Find ways to serve and honor each other
How can you show your wife how you respect and honor her spiritual beliefs? There are ways to do it you just have to understand her and let her go on her own spiritual journey.
Develop traditions
One of the most powerful ways of building bonds and helping your kids share those bonds is to have traditions. Traditions are the closest link to your ancestors and believe it or not you are your kid’s ancestors.
Though it is important for a marriage to be on the same page, you can have a good marriage but you have a better marriage when you both have similar beliefs.
