I'm sure that you know of, or at least have heard of, the importance of intimacy as a critical factor in the success of a relationship. In this article I wish to discuss:

1. My definition of intimacy.

2. Reasons why intimacy is an elusive ingredient in most relationships, and,

3. What one can do to create more intimacy in one's relationship.

Firstly, let me begin with what I mean by intimacy. Very simply it is about one's ability to remain open and honest with their partner about what they are feeling and thinking.

Clearly such a feat is not an easy one for most couples to achieve for reasons which include:

1. Many individuals are often not even aware themselves of what they are thinking and/or feeling.

2. This lack of awareness is often the result of a host of fears of being fully conscious of this information.

3. The fears are often about dredging up uncomfortable feelings about one's self, one's past, one's family, and one