Intimacy is multifaceted. Most people think of sex when they hear the word intimacy, but it’s much more than that. Intimacy is the closeness between people in a personal relationship. Before we jump into utilizing mindfulness and meditation for intimacy, let’s discuss the types.
1. Emotional: when you’re comfortable expressing your deep feelings.
2. Intellectual: sharing ideas and thoughts without judgment.
3. Recreational: being active with one another producing a positive outcome.
4. Financial: exchanging your fiscal wants, needs, and ideas where both feel secure.
5. Spiritual: sharing similar views on values and beliefs, including religion.
6. Commitment: promising to be with each other despite ups and downs.
7. Work: when you’re able to be vulnerable with a colleague to share ideas.
8. Conflict/crisis: revealing the same kinds of traumatic events that creates a bond.
9. Creative/aesthetic: creating something amazing together.
10. Physical: touching and being near someone that isn’t sexual.
11. Sexual: being open and connecting through sex primarily and 4 other types of intimacy.
Now that you have a better understanding of intimacy, it helps you prepare yourself for your mindfulness and meditation. They go hand in hand. One leads to another on a beautiful journey of alertness. What is mindfulness? It’s the ability to be completely present in the moment. It is being aware of what you are doing and where you are. Ideally, you have to be capable of not being distracted or overwhelmed by your surroundings. Mindfulness is tuning out the noise and being one with yourself. It encourages you to be in tune with your thoughts, emotions, senses, and mental state. As you practice, you actively become mindful. Think of it like training your body to enhance your fitness. In this case, you’re redesigning your brain to consciously live in the moment.
Speaking of moments, meditation is the practice of focusing on one thing. Whether it is a thought, emotion, activity, or object, you have to pick one. Meditation is an art of discovering clarity, honing in on
your breaths. As you find yourself drifting away from your choice of attention, your mind goes back to pay attention to the moment. It’s hard to quiet the noise of stress and anxiety or your to-do list. Your mind is used to running marathons around daily activities such as work and family. Meditating helps you in many ways that’s beneficial to your life. Who doesn’t want to reduce pain, stress, or anxiety? Meditation assists you with focusing and coping skills as you navigate through the good and bad times. It helps you sleep better and improves your overall well-being. Additionally, meditation transforms negative thinking to positive thoughts. Doesn’t that sound so relaxing? If you’ve never tried meditation, what are you waiting for? Here’s a quick guide to get you started on different kinds of meditation.
1. Mini meditation: take 5 minutes to stop and sit in silence to quiet your thoughts.
2. Mantra meditation: choose a word like love to be your mantra and repeat to relax.
3. Walking meditation: take a stroll in a peaceful place to destress.
4. Bath meditation: draw a warm bath and relax your body.
5. Breathing meditation: take in deep breaths and repeat until your heart rate slows.
6. Mindful meditation: be aware of y
our thoughts and patterns in the moment.
Now that you’ve selected the best technique that suits you, follow these easy steps.
1. Get comfortable: lay or sit down in a space that you feel relaxed.
2. Close your eyes: add an eye cooling mask or a warm towel on your forehead if you’re lying down.
3. Breathe again: breathe naturally rather than trying to control them.
4.Focus: pay attention to your body movements as you inhale and exhale.
Grab your partner to share in these experiences. After you’ve mastered it, learn together which methods you prefer as a couple. Witness your connection grow deeper as you let down your guards. Share your innermost thoughts and ideas a little more each day. Try a new form of intimacy each week and don’t be afraid of mixing two or three together. Your bond gets stronger the more you trust your partner with personal wants and needs. The more comfortable you are, the more intimacy becomes a part of your relationship. Let your partner know your likes and dislikes as you go on the journey together. Go get closer than close!
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