{"id":36971,"date":"2021-10-03T13:00:04","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/?p=36971"},"modified":"2025-09-14T22:09:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T20:09:56","slug":"exploring-platonic-romance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/exploring-platonic-romance\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Platonic Romance"},"content":{"rendered":"

We put a lot of emphasis on our romantic relationships, and for good reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Romanc<\/a>e lights us up, inspires us, and helps us feel that fiery rush of what it means to be alive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Romance, however, isn\u2019t always easy to find, especially amidst a pandemic with off-and-on lockdowns. Even dating apps can be a tricky and complicated terrain to traverse.<\/span><\/p>\n

So how do you get more romance in your life so that you can reap the benefits of its juiciness, without the difficulty of finding romantic partners?<\/span><\/p>\n

You get resourceful and use what you\u2019ve got.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chances are you have at least one friend who has similar needs as you and is also looking for more romance in their lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So how do you dive deeper into your relationship so that you can both get more of your needs met and develop a deeper connection?<\/span><\/p>\n

With platonic romance, of course.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Platonic Romance?<\/h2>\n

Many people were brought up in societies that had a general fear of intimacy. If this is you, you may only associate intimacy with people you are sexual with or get apprehensive about being \u201ctoo touchy\u201d with friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

These clear lines of what different kinds of relationships should and shouldn\u2019t look like held so many people back from exploring different dynamics.<\/span><\/p>\n

As younger generations start to push these boundaries with different kinds of relationships and dynamics, they make space for everyone to get more out of all of their relationships, not just the ones traditionally deemed \u201cromantic\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what is platonic romance?<\/span><\/p>\n

The definition of platonic romance, like anything, may differ from person to person. Generally, it\u2019s a type of relationship where you\u2019re diving deeper into the dynamic than you may with other friendships but are not sexual with each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s most likely different from a romantic relationship that\u2019s <\/span>asexual<\/span><\/a> because there isn\u2019t that sense of eros love, which feels sensual and passionate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You may or may not have some sort of commitment to each other, but this might not be more than other close friendships you have.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, this is all so nuanced and will vary from person to person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of Platonic Romance<\/h2>\n

You probably don\u2019t need convincing, but here are some added benefits to having platonic romantic relationships in your life:<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting Comfortable with Intimacy<\/h3>\n

Intimacy isn\u2019t just about sex or even physical connection like cuddling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Intimacy is the extent to which you can open up to someone and let yourself be metaphorically, and sometimes physically, held by them \u2013 and vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Platonic romance allows you to explore intimacy without the pressure of a sexual relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is especially beneficial if you\u2019re burnt out on romance, or are abstaining from sexual relationships with other people for whatever reason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Platonic romance can fulfill that vital human need of connection, and meet you where you\u2019re at in your life.<\/span><\/p>\n

You Already Trust the Person<\/h3>\n

If you are building a platonic romantic relationship with someone you already know, you have the added benefit of already having a base layer of trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trust is so necessary to be able to open up with somebody. When you already have that baseline, it makes it that much easier to feel comfortable exploring elements of romance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gender Doesn\u2019t Matter<\/h3>\n

Gender and sexuality are totally different experiences from person to person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For people who have maybe only been in heterosexual relationships but would like to explore more queer dynamics without sexual intimacy, platonic romance can give you a glimpse into what that looks like.<\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, gender shouldn\u2019t and doesn\u2019t matter no matter what kind of relationship you\u2019re in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Get Your Platonic Romance On<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re intrigued by the idea of platonic romance but don\u2019t know where to start, we\u2019ve got you covered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some tips on how to explore platonic romance:<\/span><\/p>\n

Know Your Boundaries<\/h3>\n

Before you bring new energies into your relationship, you\u2019ll have to check in with yourself about what your boundaries are, and do the same with your person.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you both comfortable with cuddling and holding hands?<\/span><\/p>\n

Are there topics you don\u2019t want to talk about?<\/span><\/p>\n

Are there certain lines you don\u2019t want to cross?<\/span><\/p>\n

These are all things to consider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind that boundaries can grow and change as you deepen your relationship, be honest with yourself and your person when they do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be Open About Your Feelings<\/h3>\n

Sometimes when we go deeper into relationships, new feelings begin to surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

If this happens to you, communicate<\/a> that with your person, and ask them where they\u2019re at, and if they\u2019d like to re-evaluate the relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being open about your feelings doesn\u2019t just mean your feelings towards the person. It means all your feelings, or at least the ones you want to share.<\/span><\/p>\n

Platonic romance is an opportunity to share more of yourself and say what\u2019s on your mind and in your heart, as well as what your needs are in relationships \u2013 specifically this one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take this opportunity to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use the Love Languages<\/h3>\n

Do you know what your person\u2019s <\/span>love language<\/span><\/a> is? Or your own for that matter?<\/span><\/p>\n

Using the love languages is a great way to incorporate more elements of romance into your relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some examples:<\/span><\/p>\n