Companionship is the term that comes from the word companion and it indicates the ideology of choosing someone as a companion on your journey. This person is much more than a friend of yours because you both have a deeper connection with each other and trust one another. A relationship is a more intimate version of that, whether romantic or non-romantic.
An example of such a companion could be your childhood friend (if you’re lucky enough to have one with you still) who knows all your dirty little secrets and has seen your brightest and lowest days.
People often perceive companionship to be a cozy warm feeling just like a person gets after having a delightful meal with their friends or family. Or that rhythm of ease a person starts to get comfortable with their companion friend.
However, similar to companionship, in a relationship the two people want to remain together for a lifetime and have developed sincere feelings of love and care for one another.
Have a quick look at this video for a better understanding:
Keep reading to know more.
What makes a relationship?
A relationship is often a more intimate version of a companionship. Here, one would often be asking for love first and the other would demand security and promises first. If they ever mutually agree upon a set of compensations with each other, they would most probably develop a wonderful relationship that would help both of them grow.
It is not necessary that in companionship there would never be an element of sexual aspect but initiating with it might have some red flags. Often couples begin with being companions and later develop so strong bonds amongst themselves that it goes much deeper than “friends with benefits.”
You might have read plenty of books and heard dozens of songs about romantic friendships and love, but in reality, I believe that companionship is much more intimate than romance and friendships.
Passion is wonderful and it just feels exciting. There is nothing better than passionate interaction. This can include deep, passionate sexual interactions or the passion of being with the person you want.
But passions can be temporary or arise without the aid of real feelings other than sexual attraction to each other. It may last the night or it may last for months, but the only time a great effort is paid attention to is when passion arises.
Of course, a relationship is not necessarily romantic. Some examples of non-romantic relationships are:
- Work relationships
- Familial
- Platonic
- Acquaintanships
Is a companion a romantic relationship?
Those who offer companionship invest their effort, attention, and time into the relationship. Companionship is long-term, but it does not necessarily have to be romantic.
When combined with sexual desire, it can go far beyond eroticism and become an experience that leads to nirvana, a true state of enlightened sexual satisfaction.
The companionship between two people is deep and continues beyond the hardships, lost passion, and everyday life. Because many people crave passion, they struggle between friendship and romantic love.
However, if a companionship is “set”, it can involve passion. In fact, you don’t have to turn down a promising relationship just because you’ve met someone more like a companion than a romantic partner at first.
A companionship may require two people to work harder to get to the level of understanding and comfort, but in general, the benefits outweigh a romantic relationship. If you’re in a relationship and you’re thinking about ending it because it doesn’t bring you enough enthusiasm, think twice.
Here’s a quick comparison of a relationship and companionship.
| Parameter of Comparison | Relationship | Companionship |
| Dependency | Dependent on each other for choice making. | Independent in choice making. |
| State of bond | Blood relation, Marital Relation, Relation between two lovers. | Joyful relation, where both can relate to their passions. |
| Freedom of Individuals | Decisions need to be first discussed mutually and then made. | People can make decisions as they want. |
| Time to be devoted | You have to devote some time to its development. | Does not require extra time to develop. |
| Characteristics | The most significant trait of a relationship is a sincere commitment. | Sincerity, Care, Honesty, Understanding, Trust. |
Is it ok to marry for companionship?
Absolutely. Companionship marriage is a mutually agreed upon and is an equal union of partners. Its purpose is based on communication rather than traditional marriage functions such as raising children and providing financial support or security.
In a traditional marriage, as a rule, the husband makes the living, and the wife is a housewife or ordinary housewife. You can recognize these function-oriented traditional unions in the grandparents’ generation. The relationship may be transactional (one providing financial security in exchange for a clean home, childcare, etc.) or child-rearing may be the only thing spouses have in common.
The difference between traditional marriage and fellowship is that the latter is based on the fact that the spouses have a mutually beneficial and equal role. The focus is on communication, not on children or safety. Romantic marriage is another traditional form of marriage, but it focuses more on the emotions behind the union than on pragmatism.
Think of it as Hollywood-style love portrayed in romantic comedies. You find someone you are attracted to physically and emotionally and believe that he or she could be your life partner and then based on that belief you pursue the traditional marriage system.
Everything else is expected to flow out of that love (being a good parent, a good social partner, a good financial partner, and of course a good sex partner). But that’s a high standard that few couples can actually break.
Conclusion
I believe that companionship would be much better and more feasible for most couples because it has set parameters of respect and doesn’t demand sexual attention from either partner unless both mutually agree upon it.
A relationship, especially a romantic one, requires more effort and more intimacy. Unlike companionships where simply being in each other’s presence can be enough.
However, one size doesn’t suit most people, so you need to design it yourself. Instead of getting stuck into the traditional style of choosing the relationships, I would recommend you to explore your options and consider both the pros and cons of companionship and relationship and then make a prudent decision based on your judgment.
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