Rekindle the Couple Romance in Relationship - A Complete Guide
Falling in love is beautiful, full of surprises and warmth. However,
sustaining this lovely emotion as a constant can be challenging. Love shouldn
t fade with time, yet, life s daily grind can sometimes dim the romantic spark
once shared between partners.
Discover how to rekindle romance in your romantic relationship with
CoupleBees. Our guide offers practical tips for couples to strengthen their
bond
Before we dive into the “how” aspect, let s rediscover the “Why”.
The Role of Attraction -
Physical attraction vs. Emotional attraction
Attraction in a relationship is common yet difficult to sustain. But it is
important to understand the difference between physical and emotional
attraction. While Physical might start fading with time, it is the emotional
one that binds two individuals together in romantic relationships.
Physical Attraction is the initial spark and butterflies felt just by thinking
about the romantic partner. This attraction is triggered by outer beauty and
facial features including the fashion sense and even scent at times. These
preferences are influenced by cultural as well as societal norms. While this
aspect is almost paramount to the beginning of a beautiful romantic
relationship, it is not enough for sustaining the same for a long term. That’s
when Emotional and deeper connection comes into play.
Emotional Attraction is more than meets the eye! Attraction towards
personality, values, intellect, sense of humor, and emotional compatibility
fosters a deeper connection that fuels intimacy and long-term fulfillment. It
is about shared experiences, memories and the need to continue to live those
romantic moments again and again. Probably this is what our parents experience
in their
marriage relationship!
Try to remember what drew you to each other, what made your relationship
special. Reflect on cherished memories, shared values, and what truly excites
you about your partner. This foundation will fuel your efforts and remind you
why it s worth the investment.
How important is romance in a long-term relationship?
Romance is a significant but not necessary component of a long term
relationship. While it is important for the beginning of the romantic
relationship, it might not be the same for every couple throughout the course
of the
Couple Relationship.
Sternberg’s triangular theory of love, proposed by psychologist
Robert Sternberg, describes love in terms of three core components: intimacy,
passion, and commitment. Intimacy encompasses emotional closeness and
connection, promoting understanding and support. Passion refers to physical
and sexual attraction, driving romantic and sexual desire.
Commitment represents the decision to maintain and nurture love over time. The
theory suggests that different combinations of these elements result in
various types of love experiences, with the ideal being dependent on the needs
of the partners.
Challenges to Maintaining Romance
Moving on to the challenges and reasons that might reduce this spark and
attraction is the first step towards rekindling the romance. Let us try to
understand a few of the possible causes for reduced romance and spark in a
healthy relationship otherwise.
-
Taking each other for granted: One of the major and most
common problems faced by couples is that they stop putting in effort to
make each other feel special after a while, don’t plan surprises anymore
and don’t give each other the time they used to. This reduces the feelings
of being valued and appreciated by the partner.
-
Routine and familiarity: Everyday life takes over after
the initial phase. This can create a mundane attitude even towards the
partner decreasing the excitement and adventure feelings.
-
Poor Communication: Being able to communicate honestly
and openly about however we are feeling is paramount to a healthy
relationship. If communication breaks down due to any reason, it can cause
frustration and resentment to build up leading to pushing the partners
apart.
-
Unresolved Conflicts: Holding on to past hurts and
conflicts can cause a negative atmosphere within the couple. This lack of
closure and resolution can reduce the connection between the couple making
it difficult for them to feel close.
Rekindle the Romance:
It should be understood that it is totally normal for a romantic relationship
or marriage relationship to feel like it’s fading out, and even to question
whether it’s time to leave and move on.
Whether the relationship dip is the fallout of a major life event—like an
affair—or just years and years of following the mundane routine, following are
some expert tips on how to revive the connection, rekindle the romance, and
fall in love all over again.
Revisiting the Beginning: Reviewing your old photographs,
reading the previous chats, and revisiting your old date spots, can help you
bring back the memories and emotions attached to them, and it might help you
understand the very reason why you fell in love with your partner in the first
place! This reminiscing helps romantic couples see the better version of
themselves and removes focus from conflicts, disagreements, and fights that
might be the current focus. Especially married couples and romantic couples in
long-term relationships must try to do this.
Show Physical Affection: With time the romance between the
couple begins to die because of reduced display of Affection. Physical touch
in the form of kissing, hugging, or holding hands, strengthens the connection
owing to the release of the “love” hormone called Oxytocin enhancing the
“happy” feeling. This feeling is then remembered as the one that comes when
you are around your partner! Married Couples should especially practice
physical affection more often to stay connected to their partners.
Plan Surprises: Don t let the busy schedules kill the thrill
of date nights and surprises. Plan surprise picnics, cook a romantic meal
together, or explore a new hobby as a couple. To bring back the excitement, it
is important to feel the excitement like before! Such thoughtful gestures keep
the romance and adventure alive between the partners. Dates reflect that the
partners appreciate the time they spend together. There is nothing like a few
hours of quality time!
Try new things together: Creating new experiences together
can foster shared memories and excitement thereby enhancing the connection
between the romantic couple. The partners must always explore new things with
their partners. This can include anything from trying a new cuisine, visiting
a new place or cafe, to planning a weekend getaway. Anything that brings you
the joy of spending time with your partner and making romantic memories works
as a catalyst to lost spark.
Gift each other Happiness: Giving thoughtful gifts to the
romantic partner is like showing that “I care for you” and “I value you”. It
is not about the materialistic gift per se but it is about the thought behind
the present. Gifts showcase love and consideration for the partner’s needs and
desires. These gifts are a repertoire of memories and beautiful emotions.
Support Personal Growth: Encouraging and supporting each
other’s personal goals and interests can be incredibly attractive. It shows
respect for your partner’s individuality and a desire for their happiness and
fulfillment. This support can strengthen the emotional foundation of the
romantic relationship.
Power of Gratitude: Always try to acknowledge the fact that
your partner is special to you and you are grateful for having them. This
makes them feel valued and cared for. Recognizing, acknowledging and
appreciating the efforts put in by the partner strengthens the bond and love
between the couple. This gratitude can be for as small efforts as making bed
for the partner. But reflecting that you are thankful for the efforts helps
the partner be happier while putting in the efforts.
Work on the Conflicts: Both, Married couples and long-term
romantic partners must openly communicate about the problems faced by them.
Otherwise, the fatigue of past conflicts can affect the present course of the
relationship. Resolve conflicts with open discussions and even arguing if
needed. But any concern should not be left without closure. Move forward after
finding solutions together of the previous fights. This will enhance the
romantic bond and increase room for empathy in the relationship, helping in
making it an ideal marriage or romantic relationship.
Work on Expectations: It is important to discuss expectations
before it starts affecting the partners. Unsaid expectations do more harm than
evident conflicts. The partners should communicate their expectations from
each other and also what is unrealistic and not possible for them to
reciprocate should also be a part of the discussion. Relationships are
dynamic. There is no one size fits all approach to happiness in a
relationship. Discuss and learn then expect!
Reaffirm the Commitment: Renewing the commitment towards the
romantic partner can be powerful and attractive. When you are tired from the
day and bored of routine life, knowing that your partner is still as committed
to you as they were many years ago brings joy and Romance. This can be done by
renewing the vows in case of marriage couples or simply re-proposing your
partner in a small yet beautiful way. This commitment will remind the partners
about the beautiful journey ahead of them together.
Seek Couple Counseling- If the
partners are struggling to keep up with Romance for a long time, they must
consider couple counseling for understanding the problem effectively and work
on the same together with the
Therapist
. Couple Counseling can help the romantic couple view the problem more
objectively and openly discuss ways to solve the same. Couple Counseling also
helps the couple to be able to communicate with their partners more
effectively facilitating them strengthen their bond.
It should be remembered that Rekindling romance is a journey, not a
destination. Patience, understanding, and consistent efforts are the key.
Every relationship is unique whether it is a marriage relationship or a
romantic couple relationship. The couples should choose strategies resonating
with their needs and concerns.
Lastly, don t hesitate to seek guidance from a couple counselor if challenges
faced are deeper. It is better to ask for help than losing something
beautiful!
Frequently Asked Questions
It can, but strong commitment and understanding is needed to foster
the connection. If the romance is reduced, it is okay to consider ways
to enhance the same.
Owing to the busy routine, couples sometimes do not get time to show
love and how much they care for each other. If this persists for a
long time, it becomes difficult to appreciate and show love to the
partner. Other challenges could be unresolved conflicts, taking each
other for granted or some bigger change like change of cities owing to
work.
Some of the signs could be reduced appreciation towards the partner,
constant arguments about small things, not spending much quality time
with each other or simply not saying “I love you” or “Thank you for
everything you do” for a long time.
Partners can apologize to each other by communicating what went wrong
and that they are sorry for whatever happened. This open communication
can be supported with thoughtful gestures and gifts like picking the
partner from work or cooking them their favorite meal.
Everyday moments can be made romantic by small gestures even in
routine activities. Surprise your partner with sweet notes, fun
adventures, and heartfelt compliments during the day. A simple
heartfelt text during a busy day can light up emotions.