Love is a powerful feeling that can be expressed in many ways. From words of affirmation to acts of service, finding out how your partner receives and expresses love is key to maintaining a healthy relationship.
When it comes to romantic love, showing your significant other how much you care can be easy and meaningful. Whether you’re picking up their favorite book that they marked hearts in the margins of or staying up late to binge-watch their favorite show, small gestures can go a long way. In fact, according to a 2017 study on “love languages,” hand holding, cuddling, cooking dinner and compassion were the top expressions of love.
However, even when you’re in a great place with your partner and have an understanding of their love language, it can still be difficult to put those three magical words out there. Especially when you don’t want to risk hurting their feelings or jeopardize the relationship by saying it too soon.
It’s also not always clear when you’re ready to utter those magic words, as different people have varying opinions on when it is appropriate. While some people suggest waiting several months or even a year before saying it, others say that you should just go for it. Ultimately, it depends on your comfort level and how well you know the person.
Fortunately, there are some classic quotes that have stood the test of time and help summarize what love truly is. These famous quotes are a great addition to any greeting card, or can be sent as a sweet text message to your loved one.
The Most Important Emotion in the World
While some experts disagree on the definition of love, most agree that it is a complex emotion that involves feelings of intimacy, passion, desire and commitment. It can also involve care, closeness, protectiveness and attraction. Some researchers have also made distinctions between loving someone and being in love with them, stating that the former is more of a choice and based on emotions like affection or lust while the latter is more of an unconscious or biological drive.
Regardless of what you call it, love is a powerful force that can bring out the best in us and motivate us to be better versions of ourselves. But the question is, how do you know if you’re really in love with another person?