When we think about the state of our sex life, there is likely to be a range of responses. We may be over the moon with ecstatic satisfaction; politely tolerant and in the automatic pilot zone; apathetic, completely zoned out from today’s sexual hoopla; or perhaps we may be fairly unhappy and just longing for more.

In whichever state we may find ourselves, it is likely that at some point we have recognized that the distinct differences between how men and women approach sexual intimacy have impacted our relationship. In other words, we have probably experienced a level of disconnection from our spouse, on account of our sexual differences.

Men need to "get it on" sexually to feel more emotionally connected and we women need to feel more emotionally connected, to really enjoy our partner’s sexual advances. Although we’ve been repeatedly exposed to this information, there is nothing like a sexual comfort zone to make us feel well, comfortable.

We bask in the familiar and in the safety of trying to have our personal needs met in ways that we always have. We may even have a list of sexual expectations which, when not met, leave us sexually dissatisfied. Our focus on what we’re not getting in the bedroom can, therefore, affect our ability to zero in on what our spouse might want. The result of this is often two sexually self-focused and unhappy people.

Moving past this relationship conundrum will require some "out-of-the-box" thinking. I’m not necessarily talking about trying new kinky tricks (although that could be involved) as I am about a change of attitude, which prompts us to prefer our spouse’s sexual and emotional needs before our own. This, I call, "thinking outside our sex."

There is something about the pursuit of sexual pleasure, which can seem inherently selfish. We want our sexual episodes to happen on our own terms, including time of day, frequency, levels of experimentation, position, technique and orgasmic intensity. At some level, this approach is instinctive and not inherently wrong as long as we’re not locked into it. On the other end of this spectrum, our own terms might even involve zero or minimal sex, as it may pain us to bother with sexual intimacy for a range of reasons.

The challenge for couples to literally think outside their sex is one which should prompt them both individually and collectively put their preferences aside—at least for a period of time. This is how the experiment should go and the rationale underpinning it.

How to Think Outside Your Sex

You long for greater sexual connection; you feel somewhat alone in your relationship and want to restore the fire. Since sex has been proven scientifically to be a great connector and mood enhancer, couples should quit fighting over sexual differences and learn to maximize on them.

With this understanding in mind, reserve a period of about three weeks where you will commit to "serving" your spouse sexually. This will literally mean enquiring about, discovering and fulfilling your partner’s preferences and fancies, even at the expense of your own (of course within human reason). If your man wants it everyday, don’t hesitate to lay it on him. If your woman needs to talk and talk, carve out time to cater to her emotional needs since this is very much connected to her sexual responsiveness.

Whether it’s more oral sex for your wife or her taking greater initiative in the bedroom, carving out a period of time (not simultaneously) where each of you can serve each other both sexually and emotionally, can go a long way towards reducing barriers and building your intimacy capacity as a couple.