The Nature of Intimate Relationships

   Intimate relationships are what all humans inquire over their life spand.  Being intimate is not necessarily being romantic, but being emotionally connected on the same level.  Intimate relationships require deep commitment and a lot of attention.  Being committed towards one another shows each other that you have a desire to be with that person under any circumstances.  When a couple is on a committed level of their relationship it is too assuming that they want to have a future together. Intimate relationships foster interdependence, meaning if something was to happen to one person in the relationship it would affect both people.  Intimate relationships require continuous investment.  In order to have a healthy, stable relationship couples must make sacrifices for each other’s wants and needs.  Couples must invest one another’s time, money, and dedicated attention. Couples who are in a romantic relationship know exactly how much they are investing in the relationship. If couples put forth equal effort towards one another, the couple is most likely to be extremely happy and satisfied.  Intimate relationships spark dialectical tensions. Dialectical tensions are conflicts between two important but different wants and needs.  This happens with every couple.  No one is expected to be a happy step ford wife family.  All couples have issues that they have with one another; with good communication the two of you should be able to work things out.
There are three tensions that are likely to arise.  Autonomy VS Connection, Openess VS Closedness, Predictability VS Novelty. All of these tensions are likely to come up in your relationship at one point. Just remember communication is key.