Is there a difference between true love and true intimacy?

Answer 1

My thoughts .... One can fall in love, but it is intimacy that takes that initial love into the next level, so that the euphoric feelings can be experienced over and over again. Intimacy involves all dimensions of our lives - physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, social ... To be initimate requires us to accept getting hurt at the same time as receiving love. If one chooses to build walls around his/her heart to prevent getting hurt, then he/she is essentiallly shutting the door on love as well. Lasting love is only possible if we tear down the walls and embrace the joy and pain of loving others as they love us back. Showing intimacy takes strength within us, to open up our vulnerabilities and flaws to someone who may hurt or love us for them. Letting someone into our flawed inner self takes courage and selflessness. That is why true intimacy is harder to attain than true love....

God Bless You Ramjet!

Answer 2

Yes, you can have true love without true intimacy but very rarely the other way around. Love is more of an action that a feeling. Where as intimacy is being vulnerable and letting your real self show and be able to share with one another without fear of being hurt...You can have true intimacy through prayer whether with a friend, spouse or with God....and usually you have true love to be willing to be that vulnerable.

Answer 3

Yes I believe there is. I love my husband both emotionally and intimately. It is very possible to love without intimacy but intimacy adds a lot to a relationship. On the other hand, I do believe people can be intimate physically without love and I also believe that you can be intimate emotionally without being IN love with a person. Now that I have confused you, I will stop! LOL :-)

Answer 4

I think so. I believe that true love is when you know you want to be with someone, you can't imagine not living without them, you would die and do anything for this person. True intimacy is something you can relate to with a person, the fire is there and this can relate to true love but it could also be a measure of true fulfillment in your intimate needs.

Answer 5

It depends on the person really and how well they are able to define the two. It is difficult for some people to be truly intimate with someone unless they are truly in love.

The dictionary describes intimacy as: a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group, a close association with or detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a place, subject; an act or expression serving as a token of familiarity, affection, or the like,a n amorously familiar act; sexual intercourse.the quality of being comfortable, warm, or familiar.


You can very well be familiar and comfortable with someone in that sense without being in love with them. You can be sexually involved with someone and not be truly in love with them. You can be intimate to the point of sharing all your secrets, goals, dreams, and body, but not be in love with them.

True love is generally something deemed as unconditional, having a very intimate relationship does not mean that is unconditional.

I think of intimacy as more of a part of a relationship then the whole thing, it's a part of love, but not the whole thing and it is something that can exist in a relationship without true love being present.

Answer 6

I believe there is a difference.
True love - i describe as an 'unconditional love'. A love that truly allows and says, i love you enough to let you go - do what you wish and be yourself without restrictions from me.
True intimacy - is what two people living together in a relationship ( fitting together in time) have when they say to each other - i love you.

Answer 7

You can truly love someone without being truly in love,
true intimacy takes true trust and true love but not necessarily being truly in love.

I'm not talking about just sex as intimacy. True intimacy is a sharing of mind, emotion, body, and (for lack of better word) soul (your whole being).

Answer 8

Not much. To have a true intimacy with true love, God, you need to let Him to be in control in your life.

Answer 9

Intimacy implies trust to the extent that we can unmask and reveal who we really are without fear and with the knowledge that we will be genuinely honored. The degree of intimacy is in proportion to the level of trust. Some people have extraordinary levels of trust both in themselves and in others to the point of fearlessness. These are those rare ones who can establish deep personal connections with many people.

Human love on the other hand has many faces from love of god to love of humanity in general to love of country to love of group to love of family to love of friend with whom we can be intimate spiritually but not physically, to love of friend with whom we are intimate both spiritually and physically, love of parent for child. Then there is love of parent for child child for parent and probably some I'm forgetting. Some of these involve more intimacy than others and different aspects of inimacy.

Answer 10

You can truly love someone, but not be able to establish intimacy.

Intimacy requires a deep level of sharing and trust, the love must be mutual. Intimacy is not about sexuality... one can have sex without being intimate at all...