Prioritizing Physical Affection: Creating Rituals of Touch

Master Your Marriage - A podcast by Sharla and Robert Snow

Values Course “Sync Up: Aligning Values & Vision For Lasting Love” now available! Get registered here: https://stan.store/masteryourmarriage/p/in-sync-together-aligning-values--vision"Physical touch is a language of its own."Physical touch is a vital language of connection in relationships. It fosters trust, teamwork, and overall well-being. Touch is a powerful way to communicate emotions and messages without words. Research shows that touch improves performance and cooperation in teams, including NBA players. Touch starvation, or the lack of physical affection, can lead to loneliness, depression, and health issues. To prioritize physical affection in long-term relationships, create daily rituals of touch, such as a six-second kiss, a 20-second hug, holding hands, giving back rubs, and creating a bedtime ritual that includes touch. It's important to respond to your partner's touch bids and avoid making touch conditional on sex. If touch has not felt safe in the past, start slowly and seek healing.TakeawaysPhysical touch is a vital language of connection in relationships.Creating daily rituals of touch can prioritize physical affection in long-term relationships.Responding to your partner's touch bids strengthens connection and intimacy.Avoid making touch conditional on sex and prioritize non-sexual touch.If touch has not felt safe in the past, start slowly and seek healing.Chapters00:00 Introduction06:11 Improving Performance and Cooperation15:13 Touch Starvation: The Impact of a Lack of Physical Affection23:27 Responding to Touch Bids: Strengthening Connection and Intimacy26:23 Creating a Safe Space: Healing Past Trauma and Building Trust28:13 Conclusion