Emotional intimacy doesn’t happen overnight — and it doesn’t grow without safety, trust, and intention. In this powerful conversation, Michael and Heather are joined by longtime friends Assad Saif and Summer Saif to unpack what emotional intimacy really is, why so many couples struggle to build it, and how it can be restored even after seasons of disconnection.Together, they explore how emotional intimacy is rooted in trust and commitment, why you can only connect as deeply as you’ve gone personally, and how small, consistent steps can rebuild safety in a marriage that feels stuck. The conversation breaks down practical tools like emotional “baby steps,” rebuilding trust incrementally, navigating personality differences, and using frameworks such as love maps to truly know your spouse — not just coexist with them.Assad and Summer also share vulnerable insights from their own marriage, including how therapy, faith, self-awareness, and communication rhythms have helped them move through conflict and deepen connection over time. From learning how to express emotions safely, to understanding how emotional safety impacts physical and spiritual closeness, this episode offers hope and clarity for couples at every stage.If you’ve ever felt emotionally distant, unsure how to reconnect, or afraid to open up again, this conversation reminds you that emotional intimacy is not a personality trait — it’s a skill that can be learned, practiced, and rebuilt with patience and grace.Don't know what your enneagram type is? Take the assessment for free on our website:https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/Find us online:Website: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/Merch: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/storeInstagram: imperfectlymarried_thepodcast Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576918626044TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imperfectly_married

Health in marriage is not one-size-fits-all — and your Enneagram type plays a bigger role than you may realize. In this Enneagram Edition of Imperfectly Married, Michael and Heather explore how each personality type uniquely experiences physical, emotional, and spiritual health, especially under stress.This conversation breaks down how different Enneagram types drift when one area of health is neglected, why some types ignore their bodies, others suppress emotions, and others disconnect spiritually — and how those patterns quietly affect marriage over time. Rather than focusing on behavior fixes, this episode centers on awareness, compassion, and understanding the deeper motivations driving each type.If you’ve ever felt out of sync physically, emotionally drained, or spiritually disconnected in your marriage, this episode offers clarity, grace, and a path forward — tailored to who you actually are.Join the Imperfectly Married Newsletter below to get your free download of our 2026 new year reflection worksheet:https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/Find us online:Website: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/Merch: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/storeInstagram: imperfectlymarried_thepodcast Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576918626044TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imperfectly_married

When couples think about health, they usually think about diet, exercise, or weight goals. But health is far more than just physical. In this episode of Imperfectly Married, Michael and Heather unpack the three pillars of health that every marriage should work on: physical, emotional, and spiritual. They explore how neglecting even one of these areas creates disconnection, resentment, fatigue, and emotional distance. As well as how small, intentional steps toward wholeness can radically change the way you love, communicate, and connect.Whether you’re feeling physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, spiritually dry, or simply unsure where to start, this conversation offers practical wisdom, grace-filled encouragement, and a clear reminder: a healthy marriage begins with healthy people choosing wholeness together.Join the Imperfectly Married Newsletter below to get your free download of our 2026 new year reflection worksheet:https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/Find us online:Website: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/Merch: https://imperfectlymarriedpodcast.com/storeInstagram: imperfectlymarried_thepodcast Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576918626044TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imperfectly_married