Saturday 31 August 2024

Affection in Romantic Relationships.


The need to feel loved is one of the essential reasons for a relationship. This feeling of love is reflected through affection. It is a demonstration and affirmation of love for your partner. Affection helps partners to bond and creates a relationship of closeness and connection. 

In a loving relationship, affection is the glue that holds partners together. Consciously show affection because lack of affection brings up other issues in a relationship. Partners need to feel loved or other negative thoughts could follow.

One of the fuels that power relationships is love. The need to feel loved through affection from your partner is a big emotional need every partner desires. As humans, we constantly crave positive attention; showing affection is the best way to receive and give attention.

Affection is an important part of a healthy relationship because it helps to create a strong bond between two people. It is a way to show love, care, and respect for one another. Affection can also help to reduce stress, build trust, and strengthen communication. 


Four hallmarks of affectionate relationship. 

Accepting your partner.

To feel accepted is a human need that most people have and one of the places people seek this acceptance is in their relationships. The feeling that your partner accepts you regardless of imperfections, flaws, and insecurities, is a big boost in life. Acceptance fosters unity and enables partners to feel comfortable in the relationship without judgment.

Acceptance comes with understanding your partner and trusting them.  It is not just about fitting in with your partner’s lifestyle; it means bringing your partner closer by involving them in all aspects of your life.

When the emotional need to feel accepted is unfulfilled, it can cause secrets to grow and lies to enter and make the relationship toxic or unhealthy.

Valuing your partner.

It is advisable to derive your sense of value from yourself. However, feeling valued by someone you love is a human trait. The show of affection means, your partner values and prioritises your and your contributions in the relationship.

You and your partner may have contributions towards building your relationship, still, beyond these contributions, there exists an emotional need to feel valued for just yourself, aside from the responsibilities you perform.

It is important to try to convey how valuable your partner is to you through affection which is reflected through basic interactions between you and your partner. This can be done with compliments or simply by just telling them. Showing your partner you care, even in non-physical ways, can help your relationship thrive. 

Affection and appreciation convey a sense of being valued by your partner. Feeling valued is a big emotional need in a relationship and acting affectionately towards your partner boosts relationship satisfaction.

Feeling emotionally secure with your partner

Affection conveys a feeling of trust which breeds the feeling of security. Your partner has to feel they can trust you with anything before they feel safe. Everyone has a personal history of trust and the feeling of being safe around others based on their experiences.

Feeling emotionally secure is vital in a relationship because it allows you to free your mind and feelings towards your partner. 

When you feel safe with your partner, you can tell them secrets you would not tell other people and it also means your partner can trust you with anything. The show of affection builds security in a relationship and makes partners more comfortable sharing their feelings.

Ensure your partner always feels safe with you through genuine affection. When people feel safe in relationships, they have a sense of security knowing that their partners have their back.

Feeling an emotional connection with your partner.

It is important to keep the feeling of love burning in your relationship through affection. A relationship is an act where two people come together to share their lives. It is important to remember  you’re two people with separate interests, and experiences. 

When you share your life with someone, you must find a way to harmonise your interest with that person. Emotional connection is crucial to the success of your relationship. This connection implies an alignment with your partner’s interests and needs.

Building connection with your partner is achieved through affectionate gestures of love or physical intimacy. Such acts strengthen the bond of togetherness between the partners.

When partners do not feel connected to one another, they merely becomes two different people living together and in such a situation, it is difficult to be empathetic toward each other.

Affection is a tangible way of showing love and care, showing and receiving affection is an important aspect of any healthy relationship. 

In a romantic relationship, a lack of affection can cause doubts, and conflicts, and may lead to possible issues. Gestures of affection make your partner feel loved, accepted, valued, secure and not alone in the relationship.


Monday 26 August 2024

Unsung Heroines: Grandma, the Great by Ejiro Otive-Igbuzor.


Book Review

It is a story of enduring love woven through the trials of a young nurse named Mary and her mother's unwavering support.

Mary, a dedicated nurse, fell in love with a young man named Vincent when he brought his aunt to the hospital for treatment. Their whirlwind romance led to an unexpected pregnancy just as Vincent set off for a better future abroad. Mary found herself overwhelmed by the weight of her situation. The realisation hit her hard: she might have to leave school, and the thought of breaking the news to her mother terrified her.

How would she tell a mother who left her husband in the city to the village for a chance to send her female children to school? A woman who worked tirelessly, selling whatever she could to ensure her children had the best? How could she tell her mother, a devout catholic, a well-known socialite and a community leader, that her daughter got pregnant out of wedlock?

For Mary, it seemed like the end of the road until she realised the depth of her mother’s enduring love. When she finally confessed her pregnancy, her mother experienced a whirlwind of emotions, including anger, disappointment, and love. “Mama grappled with her emotions, torn between her love for her daughter and her fear of societal judgment.” Despite her fear of societal judgment, her mother's love prevailed.   

Mama understands that love means not abandoning Mary, but guiding her through this challenge. “Being a good mother doesn’t mean shielding your children from mistakes or judgments,” she realised. “Instead, it means standing by their side, helping them navigate their challenges, and instilling the resilience needed to overcome adversities.”

Her love and support gave Mary the strength to bear the burden of her pregnancy with pride. When she gave birth, her mother took over the nurturing of the child and sent her back to school. Mama cared for her daughter and granddaughter even when communications ceased between Mary and Vincent, the child's father. 

In the end, Vincent returned, ready to reclaim his family. However, the true hero of this story remains Mary’s mother, whose words and actions provide the physical and moral strength her daughter needs to face her challenges and fulfil her dreams.

The story calls for mothers to love their children unconditionally and be their support system, especially during times of difficulties. Being a good mother means standing for and with your children in good times and in bad times of their lives.

The story of Mary and Vincent shows the power of genuine love. When love comes from the heart and not the lips, nothing douses it.

Please read this and many other interesting stories about women’s struggles, families, and relationships in We Rise!


Get copies here

https://selar.co/6q2x71

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https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/galsglobalhangout


Affection in Romantic Relationships.

The need to feel loved is one of the essential reasons for a relationship. This feeling of love is reflected through affection. It is a demo...