When it comes to love, there are many different kinds. You can fall in love with a person, a project, or even an idea. The common denominator is that you care about something deeply and want it to succeed. This can be the reason you forgive your partner for being late or work overtime to finish a creative project. Alternatively, it could be why you’re devastated when your team loses or you dream of getting a promotion so you can afford to take your kids to Disneyland. Regardless of the object of your affection, there are certain things you can do to make everyone around you happier. This can be as simple as spreading positive energy and expressing your appreciation for people who matter to you.
For those who are a bit more romantically inclined, you can let them know that they mean the world to you by telling them how much you love them. Whether this is through a letter, a box of chocolates, or simply telling them out loud, this can help reinforce their role in your life. Ultimately, saying “I love you” is one of the best ways to show your affection.
However, if you don’t feel ready to say those words, it may be a sign that you need to turn inward and examine your relationship with yourself first. This can be difficult, but it’s important to ensure that your motivations are purely romantic and not driven by other factors, such as fear of rejection or feeling desperate for a connection.
While it’s true that women tend to wait longer than men to utter those magic three words, you shouldn’t feel pressured to confess your feelings before you are ready. In fact, a study by Abertay University found that on average, it takes 107 days or 3.5 months for men to say those magical three words and 122 days or 4 months for women.
This is because love isn’t always cinematic; it can be a slow, crawling process that enters the dungeon of reality with you and builds trust, presence, and connection over time. It can also be the act of your partner hearing you cough in the middle of the night and dropping their sun-drenched vacation plans to stay by your side.
There is no right way to tell someone that you love them, but it’s important to find a way to do so. Often, this means getting radically honest with yourself about your own relationships and emotional states and making sure that your motives are pure.
Ultimately, a happy person knows that happiness doesn’t come from getting what they think they need, but rather from being present and enjoying the moments they have. This is why it’s essential to practice mindfulness and embrace the present moment – and that includes loving someone despite the possibility that they don’t love you back. This kind of love reveals in you a capacity that is truly unique and noble.
