by Joan Inong

Created on: September 14, 2009

A relationship is supposed to be full of affection. If both partners are not willing to show their love to each other, then perhaps it is best that they go their separate ways, since there may be a deep-rooted problem that is causing that rift.

Showing affection in your relationships not only shows that you care about those people, but that your relationship is working. You can show affection in different ways: through words, through actions, through feelings. However, it is up to you to choose the medium which is most comfortable to you. Some people do not feel comfortable showing affection physically. The problem behind this inability may lie somewhere else, and is one that needs further investigation.

However you choose to show your love, make sure that you do show it. For example, some conservative couples are not able to show affection in public, and they look down on the younger generation or on couples who are able to show affection in public. These differences in thought can be attributed to different generations or ways of being brought up (such as differences in environment, cultures, etc.).

What does showing affection do for relationships? First of all, physical attraction is an important part of any relationship. Although we can say that we don't like people just for their looks, the truth is that we find pleasure in our partner regardless of the way they look. It seems as if our minds are on a two-way track. If we feel that our partner is physically attracted to us, we feel accepted and our self-esteem rises. If we do not feel that physical attraction from our partners, we may feel rejected or full of flaws.

Not only that, but when we show affection to our partners we also benefit ourselves. Our relationships will be happier if both people feel comfortable. Affection seems to translate as desire and acceptance, and showing affection to our partner can be a way of telling him/her that we care and that we still want them. Even though most couples don't need reminders about the condition of their relationship, it is best to do so.

So, showing affection is not only good for our partners but also for us. We want our partners to be happy and to feel accepted within that relationship. If those two things are to happen, we have to show affection when we can, whether we show that affection through words or through actions.

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