You might agree that occasional romance is “nice,” but it’s limited. Romance over-time is what it’s really all about. Why? Because consistency of romantic effort reflects your commitment to your partner. Because it shows that he or she is a top priority in your life.
Romantic love consists of a triad of passion, commitment, and intimacy. Let’s take a quick look at how these ingredients combine and recombine at different stages in a relationship.
Passion usually takes the lead during dating. Commitment may be nonexistent, and intimacy is just a potential.
As the relationship progresses, commitment and intimacy twist and turn around one another, building a framework for further relationship growth.
Spurred on by passion, commitment often turns serious, and marriage results. Newlywed passion usually carries the relationship for a year or two, while commitment is assumed, and intimacy builds.
When the inevitable challenges and temptations arise, it is hoped that the commitment is strong enough, and the intimacy deep enough, to sustain the relationship.
Passion, commitment, and intimacy all come under fire from a variety of outside sources: jobs, friends, money issues, children, etc. Some of the challenges come from internal sources: insecurity, lack
of self-esteem, fear, immaturity, lack of experience, etc.
The combined strength of the passion/commitment/intimacy will determine the fate of the relationship.
If commitment is strong but passion weak, the couple will “hang in there” but will not be particularly happy. If passion and commitment are strong but intimacy is weak, the couple will stay together but fail to grow.
The happiest couples are able to achieve a dynamic balance of passion, commitment and intimacy.
excellent & very true... Very :)
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