Relationships June 4, 2018
Love languages in relationships.
Are you looking for different ways to say “I love you” to your significant other? Which ones would your partner appreciate the most? This guide will show you at least one or two or even five ways to say “I love you” that would make your partner feel the love.
One way to express your love is to use words that build up your partner. Communicate your love by giving compliments, by articulating what exactly you appreciate about them and giving words of encouragement.
Pay attention to the small things and point them out. When you see your partner has changed something about them, even if it’s just something small, tell your partner that you’ve noticed it. For example, “The way you are wearing your hair today looks great” or “The shirt brings out the color of your eyes.”
When you tell your partner what you appreciate about them, be specific. For example, “I love that you’re so considerate for always picking me up from work,” or “thank you for being so supportive and going to all these networking events with me.”
Especially when your partner has a big event coming up or is going through a rough time, acknowledge that and affirm them verbally. For example, ”You will ace this interview. I believe in you!” or “I am so proud of you that you’ve worked so hard to achieve your goals. You deserve this” or “Whatever you need, let me know. I am here for you.”
This one seems simple but can become more difficult when you are busy trying to balance your career, your friends, your family and your self-care. But making time for your significant other shows him or her that they are important enough for you to prioritize them in your life.
When you are spending quality time with them, do not get distracted by your phone. Give them your full undivided attention. Do something where you can focus on each other or an activity where you two are the focus, like taking a walk together, going out to eat or simply looking at each other and talking. When you are together, listen attentively when your partner is talking and show genuine interest in them.
Giving gifts shows your partner that you thought of them. Maybe it’s something he or she has mentioned to you before or it is a reference to an inside joke between the two of you. This shows that you did not only listen to them but that you remembered. The gift is the tangible token of your listening to, thinking of and remembering them.
Sometimes giving thoughtful gifts can be difficult. It doesn’t have to be expensive or cost any money at all. Think about something that your partner has mentioned he or she wanted or something that you think they might want or need. And if you don’t want to give anything practical, think of something that represents your relationship or references something that you both have shared, anything from a joke to a significant experience together.
Help your partner out by doing the things that they would like you to do. This is about making your partner’s life easier. Think of errands or chores, such as taking out the trash, cooking a meal, going grocery shopping or washing the car. It shows your partner that you are taking energy and time out of your day to do things that might not be pleasant. It’s a sacrifice and therefore a gesture of love.
“Actions speak louder than words” rings particularly true for people for whom it’s more meaningful when you do them favors that make their life easier rather than giving them compliments or gifts.
Physical contact includes anything from sitting next to each other and holding hands to hugging and having sex.
And it depends on the individual how much physical contact he or she needs throughout the day. Some people like to hug every day but would find it smothering to be hugged every five minutes. But if you know your partner likes physical contact and how much of it, you could show your affection by hugging or kissing when greeting your partner or by touching them while passing each other casually. Even a subtle touch on the arm or back builds intimacy and the feeling of love.
Communicate with your partner about how much physical contact each of you needs and is comfortable with. Neither wants to feel clingy or frequently rejected nor smothered and suffocated.
Overall, it’s important for a healthy and well-balanced relationship to speak openly about what you and your partner need in a relationship.
Depending on your partner’s needs, what he or she appreciates most in a relationship and what he or she understands as the most meaningful expression of love, apply any of these five different ways to say I love you. It doesn’t have to be only one of them but can be a combination of multiple or all of them.
