Intimacy is healing. Trust is everything, because we can only be intimate to the degree we can make ourselves emotionally vulnerable. A fully committed relationship allows both people trust in each other. Trust allows us to feel safe. When we feel safe, we can open our heart to the other person and be completely naked and vulnerable to him or her - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When our heart is fully open and vulnerable, we can experience profound levels of intimacy that are healing, joyful, powerful, creative, and intensely ecstatic. We can surrender to each other out of strength and wisdom - not out of fear, weakness, and submission.
Dean Ornish, M.D.
Founder and President
Preventive Medicine Research Institute
Intimacy, (into me you see), is not exclusive to sexual relationships. Intimacy can be created between any two people deciding to do so. Becoming vulnerable to each other in safety deepens relationships.
Although strong boundaries are needed for each of us, through choice we decide who we will open our heart to. We create a sense of whether or not we can trust and be safe with this chosen person.
We all have experienced a time in our life when we have just blurted out personal information out of necessity to the wrong person, regretting it almost immediately. It is very worrisome to question how well our disclosed thoughts will be kept private.
It seems that many women experience deep levels of intimacy in friendship accompanied by joy, laughter, tears, and healing. To feel understood, to not be judged, and to be unconditionally embraced can be life changing.
As Dr. Ornish reflects, when we are fully open and vulnerable we experience an exchange physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Physically, our body releases stress as we release our feelings. Our body may even feel lighter. Emotionally, we will also experience a release which enables us to be less overwhelmed or fragmented. We can begin to think clearly again. There is a spiritual element to intimacy as well. On a very deep level, can feel reconnected to love of the Great Divine.
We will not fine intimacy in all of our relationships, but it is a true gift when it is created. Discretion must be used, but in building a sacred place of safety with another person, the effort strengthens and deepens our life experience.
