How do I become more affectionate/passionate?
I’ve been in a relationship with my current boyfriend for almost 3 years. However I still feel like I’m not fully comfortable being affectionate. I also feel like I don’t display passion towards him like he does him like he foes with me. Don’t get me wrong we are super close and we can talk about anything. He has every quality I could ever want in a boyfriend/husband. I just feel like when it comes to being intimate or passionate I don’t know how or can’t seem to show him that side of me. I think I’m concerned because my previous relationship although I wasn’t the best at it, I would say I felt more comfortable and less forced at showing it. However my previous relationship was with a female who was a close friend. So these are the only true relationships that I’ve ever had. And I hate to compare but I’m not sure what I should be feeling. I constantly ask myself: Is this normal? Am I not trying hard enough? Is it easier for me to be more affectionate with a female than a male? Is he not the one?
@pioneeringVillage7057
Hi there--I'm not sure what your relationship was like initially, but it's pretty normal/common for relationships to become less passionate over time. It's not necessarily an issue as long as you're happy and he's happy, even if maybe it feels a bit different than a previous relationship.
Here are a couple links I was able to find that have some tips for re-igniting a sense of passion or excitement in a relationship.
https://www.self.com/story/couples-therapists-ways-keep-park-alive-long-term-relationship
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/love/how-to-love-someone-when-it-feels-like-the-spark-is-gone/
And here's a link I was able to find related to expressing feelings in a relationship:
https://www.verywellmind.com/share-your-feelings-with-your-spouse-2300518