Emotional connection

The emotional relationship pertains to emotional connection and to intimacy. Now even though they might have similar aspects each one is quite different.

Emotional connection means we relate on an emotional level.

 It is less about how we think and more about how we feel. 

In a conversation, we can be connecting to our own feelings and relaying how we are feeling, or we can be connecting to the other person’s emotions and trying to understand how they are feeling.  Empaths are brilliant in this area.

When we talk to our partner about how we are feeling we are experiencing two processes. In one, we are revealing how the situation has made us feel. In the other, we are receiving a response from the other person to what we said. 

There can be a couple of responses. I have noticed that women are more likely to respond from an emotional place and connect with how we are feeling. They may also offer advice or relay a similar event in their lives to parallel our story.

Some men tend to skip the emotional part and begin to use a mental approach to the situation. Mostly, they will problem solve. There is nothing wrong with problem solving. However, it is a head process, whereas emotional connection is more about feelings and allowing them simply to be. 

For example, if your partner is venting about work or crying about the loss of her friend then connecting mentally will not be connecting to her at the level she needs. You will be on the mental floor while she is down on the emotional floor. There will be a separation. 

This is why no satisfaction is gained by either person. The partner wanting emotional connection does not get it and the partner giving mental solutions feels that their ideas are being rejected.

When a person comes to you for emotional connection, connect there. It is just a matter of relating to them from an emotional angle. You don’t have to fix it, solve it, or shut it down. Be quiet and listen. Pretty easy, actually.

With this emotional approach we simply give the other person an emotional space for them to express themselves. Letting another person speak out and cry or vent is a gift of love. Without judgment or problem solving we let them feel exactly how they feel.

There is no better emotional healing than just being there.

For us this method can be quite challenging because our initial instincts kick in; however, it is learning for us as well. To be quiet and allow the other person to find their own answers in the space.