The Essence of Intimacy: Merging Worlds

Close relationships are not merely a connection, but a remarkable merging of two worlds, where the boundaries between “self” and “other” begin to blur and inner experiences turn into a shared stream. In this dynamic process, people exchange not only emotions but the deepest parts of their essence, creating a new, richer reality. When the interaction between two personalities reaches its ultimate depth, it transforms into synergy, with each individual seeing in the other a reflection of themselves, and this mutual understanding of the world becomes a guarantee for personal growth. Such unity not only adds color to life, but also opens an entirely new level of inner harmony, where joy and pain are experienced together, and every loss leaves an indelible mark on the heart. In the end, intimate relationships become a powerful source of strength and transformation that not only adorns our existence but also allows each of us to feel a true oneness with the surrounding world.

Why do close relationships make us feel the other person as part of ourselves?
Close relationships are so profound that in the process of mutually penetrating and exchanging inner worlds, the distinctions between “self” and “other” begin to dissolve. In this dynamic, one perceives the other as a part of one’s essence because the established deep emotional and spiritual exchange causes the individual processes within each partner to synergize, merging into a single process.

For example, one source notes:
" The fullness and perfection of such a union, as it is realized, signify a new level of communication, in which it reaches its ultimate depth. Here, the understanding of the fundamental commonality of self and 'other' reaches the consciousness of their identity..." (source: link ).

Another author emphasizes that in the process of close interaction, people come to realize that “by refining oneself through overcoming it, people are bound by a stronger connection of recognizing the other in oneself, oneself in the other,” indicating that through mutual understanding and empathy, we begin to see in the other a reflection of ourselves (source: link ).

It is also significant that intimate relationships deeply affect the very essence of our experiences:
"Thus, other people are for me directly parts of the external objective reality that I distinguish clearly from my 'self'. But when I engage in intimate love or friendship with them, I ‘have’ them in a different manner... The concrete reality of my own being is inseparable from it; when a relationship is broken or a loved one dies, we become aware of a radical change in our own inner being." (source: link ).

Thus, the perception of another person as part of oneself arises from deep reciprocity, during which the inner worlds of two people merge, enriching and transforming their experiences. This is not merely emotional closeness but a process where interaction reaches the very core of one’s personality, making the other an inseparable part of the personal “self.”

Supporting citation(s):
" The fullness and perfection of such a union, as it is realized, signify a new level of communication, in which it reaches its ultimate depth. Here, the understanding of the fundamental commonality of self and 'other' reaches the consciousness of their identity..." (source: link )
"Despite this multifaceted split, by refining oneself through overcoming it, people are bound by a stronger connection of recognizing the other in oneself, oneself in the other." (source: link )
"Thus, other people are for me directly parts of the external objective reality... The concrete reality of my own being is inseparable from it..." (source: link )