One of the greatest things about being in a romantic relationship is intimacy.

Everyone has a biological need to have both physical and emotional intimacy in their lives. Our innate desires to connect with another person on a deeper level brings about a sense of meaning and fulfillment in us that meet our need to belong.

A loving relationship requires many things: passion, commitment, and intimacy. If you’re in a relationship full of passion and passion only, it is bound to be a failure. If it’s defined only by commitment, then it’s only about companionship. But if you add intimacy in the picture, it makes all the difference in a lasting and fulfilling relationship.

Many people don’t know the difference between physical and emotional intimacy. When people think about being intimate, images of physical manifestations of love always come to mind.

While you can have instant physical intimacy with anyone you find attractive, you can’t achieve emotional intimacy with just a casual date. Emotional intimacy is illusive – and can sometimes define a relationship that will last and one that won’t.

Before we continue with the techniques on how to get a hold of that much-coveted emotional intimacy, let’s discuss what it is not:

• Intimacy isn’t about telling the other person all about your past sexual encounters.
• It is also not about divulging all the details of your most recent break-up.
• Intimacy isn’t about telling this person all about what your therapist thinks of you.
• And it’s also not about giving your life to this person as if he or she was a diary.

Emotional intimacy doesn’t have to mean this person knows every inch of your being.

Sometimes all it takes is a series of conversations that will show you how much the other person understands you and how much he respects your thoughts, your past, your wants, and even your future.

Here are 4 tips to achieving emotional intimacy in your relationship:

1. Never Lose Your Curiosity

Doesn’t it just annoy you when a toddler or young child keeps on asking you so many questions? It’s like they have a question for every little thing in the world.

Be as curious as these little children with your partner. Ask him questions about himself – what kind of music he likes, favorite restaurants, movies – just about anything. The more you know about the person, the more you will learn to appreciate their unique being.

2. Go On An Adventure

The adventure doesn’t have to be a weekend getaway to a faraway romantic place. It can be as simple as going to the beach, riding a ferris wheel, or even as simple as hiking through the woods.

Shared experiences will give you shared memories that create a connection between the two of you – and the more bonds you create, the more connected you feel to the other person.

3. Share A Deep Emotion

Two people will always feel closer to each other when they share a deep emotion.  You can ask your partner about the most painful thing that’s ever happened to him, his most embarrassing moment, or the best gift he or she has ever received.

Finding and sharing that tender spot will create a connection between the two of you – creating a special connection that can’t be found with anyone else.

4. Share Dreams

Telling someone your dreams for your future will definitely make you feel more connected to someone, as if they are a part of the audience who are about to see your dreams unfolding. Talk about your future and what you want to happen in your life.

Be a flirt and include your partner in those plans when you talk about them, flattering them and making them think about their own plans of the future with you.

Emotional intimacy takes time but sometimes all it takes is the right questions and the right experiences to speed up the process.