by Leigh Goessl

Created on: January 02, 2010   Last Updated: March 19, 2010

Affection is an important aspect of relationships. When two people love, or care for, one another, finding ways to show physical and verbal affection is a good way to demonstrate feelings and help solidify the relationship. Affection brings two people closer.

When most relationships are new, the affection is typically frequent and non-stop. Over the course of time as two people get comfortable with one another and fall into routines, sometimes the affection has a tendency to fall off and become less frequent.

Lack of affection may not destroy a relationship as there are many, many ways to demonstrate and show love for a partner, but continuing to share affections certainly can't hurt a relationship either.  Non-verbal communication is an intimate way two people can bring themselves closer together and keep the closeness flowing. In this way the relationship continues to grow and has less opportunity to become stagnant.

Here are a few reasons why showing affection is good for relationships:

♦Strengthens a Bond

Ongoing affection between two people that love one another is a nice way to demonstrate caring and strengthen the relationship bond. When two people offer one another frequent hugs, hand-holding, kisses and general touching or caresses in passing, this keeps the love going all through the day.

Even verbal affection keeps a bond knotted tightly. Affectionately worded e-mails or phone calls throughout the day, short text messages with endearing words or other forms of spoken communication are a way to keep connected even in times when apart.

♦Reinforces Love

In committed relationships people usually know their partner loves them, but by showing them through simple signs and expressions of affection, this reinforces the love on a regular basis.

While the above physical displays of affection are great ways to demonstrate love, even quiet talking or frequent discussions with some form of contact helps strengthen the bond between two people who love one another. Looking into one another's eyes or holding hands while talking is a way two people can communicate both verbally and non-verbally.

♦Brings Closeness

Affection is also a way to continue connecting with one another. When a couple experiences this kind of closeness it cannot be matched with any other experience. Ongoing displays of affection, whether public or private, is a continuous way to continue to grow close to one another.

♦Reconnects Loved Ones

Many couples today experience busy lives and this can put some distance between partners. However with regular affection being shown, this helps people reconnect and keep their relationship spark going even if lots of time is spent apart. The intimacy shared through affectionate behavior helps reassure each partner that even when they are apart, they are still number one in one another's lives.

All too often couples fall into routines where they forget to show affection. Over the course of time this can lead to communication and other relationship breakdowns. This is not to say every couple that doesn't engage in regular affection will run into problems, but that showing affection undoubtedly can't hurt a loving partnership either.

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