Love you is an expression that is meant to be treasured, but it is not a word that should be uttered lightly. It can be a sign of true commitment and it can also signal that the person you are speaking to may no longer be in your life. As with all emotions, love can change over time and it can be difficult to know when it is the right time to say those three small words. It all depends on your relationship and the progression of it, but there are some clues that you can look for to help you determine when the time is right to profess your love.
One of the most obvious signs is if your partner misses you when you are not together and you can see that they care deeply for you. This is a clear indication that they want to spend as much time as possible with you, but they also respect your independence and the fact that you may have other relationships or friendships outside of theirs. They want to make sure you are happy and feel safe when they are not with you.
A more subtle sign is when they make an effort to spend more time with you even though they have other things going on in their life. This could mean dropping other plans to be with you, such as dinner dates or a movie night. If they are willing to sacrifice their own interests in order to spend time with you, it is a good indication that they want to spend more time with you and are starting to envision and loosely plan a future together.
Other signs include if they have been expressing more emotion or sharing intimate details with you and they have started to talk about a future with you. They may have already gotten to the stage of discussing their career goals and family plans. If they are ready to share this with you, it is a sign that they are in love and are ready for a deeper commitment.
While it is easy to get caught up in the cinematic, movie-like idea of love, the reality is that true love is much more than a series of highs. It often feels gritty and unglamorous, but it is worth it in the end. It means waking up to early morning doctor’s appointments, cleaning up bodily fluids and sacrificing your own needs for the benefit of another person.
It is not necessarily wrong to say love you in your relationship at any point, but it is important to gauge the temperature of your bond first. A good way to do this is by determining if your time together goes from hot to cold or if it is a slow-burning ember of mutual commitment. It is also important to consider the reason why they are wanting to say these three small words in the first place.
