It’s important not only to feel loved but to be able to share your feelings with others. When it comes to “I love you,” too often we gloss over these important words or don’t say them at all.
In a world where socialization is now dominated by digital communication we’re robbed daily of the necessary emotional intimacy of real-world intimacy. While we can now keep in contact with hundreds of friends compared to our parents’ measly dozen, we don’t necessarily get the same sense of belonging that their relationships may have provided. This disjunct comes from our inability to share ourselves openly and honestly with those we care about due to our lack of practice. It is important for the strength of our relationships and our own personal health to be able to feel and share these words with those that we love so that they may know how important and beautiful a roll they play in our lives.
Make eye contact.
Get over your anxieties and share something real. I’m an endless fan of intimacy.
Smile.
Love comes in all shapes and sizes, but expressing love should always be a positive experience for everyone involved. Help their subconscious know that sharing your feelings is not a painful experience but one of deep satisfaction, glorious excitement, and endless appreciation.
“I love you” is not a question.
Say it with conviction and don’t wait for a reply.
Pronounce all three words clearly.
Some people are comfortable abbreviating this phrase and dispersing it casually amongst friends, but we’re not always looking for casual comfort, we need heart-felt honesty. And don’t whisper unless you’re absolutely sure they can hear every word clearly.
Follow through with action.
Many people have learned to take these three beautiful words with a grain of salt because too often the words are abused and used for manipulation. So follow through with action. I prefer hugs.
Be creative.
Yeah, we’ve heard all heard it before, (and if you haven’t, I love you,) and now that you know the rules you can probably fake it. For your sake, don’t. But when you really mean it, and you want to give these three beautiful words new life, be creative! Express your love in a letter, a poem, a song, or tailor it specifically to your partner. A romantic may appreciate flowers and candles or dinner and a movie. An active or outdoorsy person may adore a hike and a picnic. A nerd may love a cypher or an actor may love a monologue. A traveler may love a weekend road trip and a foreigner may like to hear it in their own language.
Don’t be stingy, be real.
Finally, there are plenty of cases where a quick and comfortable “love ya” or “you, too” are appropriate, but don’t forget to really open up to the ones you care about and tell them how you feel every now and then. It’s not just for their sake.
Related Posts:
How to Say I Love You (Part 1)
Leave a Reply