Intimacy in a marriage is something we all want and need, but we don't always prioritize it. If you are looking for tips on how to reignite intimacy in your marriage, today's podcast episode is for you!

 

I touch on three tangible ways you can build more intimacy with your spouse in your marriage today.

 

1. Building Trust

When you have trust in your marriage, you know your spouse has your best interest at heart, and you are on the same team. You know they aren't going to hurt you, physically or emotionally. Intimacy requires vulnerability, and the only way to be truly vulnerable with your spouse is to have that shared trust.

 

2. You Can Complain But You Can't Criticize

In order to build intimacy in your marriage, you need to be able to express your feelings. You can't have trust and safety, if you feel like your voice isn't being heard. The goal is to express frustrations with a specific action of your spouse rather than attacking their character. By attacking your spouse's character, it puts them on the defensive, and it breaks the trust in your marriage. When you are complaining, you are talking about the action. When you are criticizing, you are talking about their character. 

 

3. Focus on Shared AND Individual Interests

For intimacy in marriage to thrive, you both need to feel comfortable to pursue your own interests. This may seem counterintuitive, but by having separate interests, it shows you respect your spouse enough to allow him to be his own person, and vice-versa. By giving your spouse freedom (within the boundaries of your marriage), you are showing that you respect his individuality. You can then come back together and enjoy your shared interests.