While the phrase “I Love You” can seem a little corny at times, it’s the highest form of verbal affection that you can give to someone. Saying it to others might not always feel natural to you, but think about how good it feels to hear it. Don’t you want the people you care about so deeply to feel that, too?
It’s common that people shy away from telling others “I Love You” because it puts themselves in a vulnerable spot. And in today’s society, being vulnerable by sharing your emotions is something people try to avoid. But in reality, this vulnerability should be celebrated, especially when it comes to affirming and cherishing the people you care the most about.
This tiny, three-word phrase is more powerful than you know, and holds the ability to move mountains. It’s capable of pulling those we love from the shadows or the storms that they are weathering. These simple, yet significant, words can have a profound impact on our own lives and the lives of those we care for. By reminding our family members and friends that we love them, we have the potential to change their day, week, or even their life.
With National “I Love You” Day right around the corner on October 14th, now is the perfect time to reflect upon expressing your love and appreciation to your friends, family, and of course, yourself.
The Power of Words
There are five love languages: gift giving, quality time, acts of service, physical touch, and words of affirmation. Love languages are the ways we show our admiration for others, and how we prefer the people in our lives to show us love.
Words are powerful, especially when they are affirmative and said with kindness. These types of words and phrases can actually improve our brain functions, strengthening our frontal lobes and increasing our cognitive reasoning. Words of affirmation, like the phrase “I Love You” can encourage us to take positive action and act as motivation.
By saying “I Love You” to your family members and friends, even though it may take a while to feel comfortable, you’ll be fostering deeper emotional connections. You’ll also be providing them with a boost of love that can trickle into all aspects of their life. Telling people that you love them is a simple and meaningful way to strengthen your relationships.
However, it’s incredibly important that you only say it if you mean it. We all know that there are few things worse than an empty “I Love You.” Shout out to our boyfriends in high school for teaching us that!
Getting comfortable with positive affirmations
Being all lovey-dovey isn’t for everyone, but we promise that the impact it will have on your relationships will outweigh the awkwardness. If you’ve never been the verbally affectionate type, there are a few things you can do to ease you in that direction.
Try writing your feelings down for someone. If you’ve had a hard day balancing your work and caring for your kids, and feel gratitude towards your mom for raising you the way she did, think about letting her know. You don’t have to call her, or show up to her home, but send her a short-but-sweet text message to let her know you’re thinking about her. Sharing that you love someone over text or in writing can feel easier than saying it in-person.
You can also acknowledge that your affection muscles are a little underdeveloped. When you want to share that you love someone, but don’t feel comfortable to just outright say it, try saying something like, “You know it’s not easy for me to express affection or to communicate my feelings, but you know I love you, right?”
In whatever shape or form the “L” word comes out, it can have a monumental emotional impact. It could completely turn someone’s bad day around, and even give them purpose when they are struggling.
Communication is key in every relationship, especially those of the romantic variety! While there’s tons of relationship advice floating around social media, simply sharing that you love your partner every night before going to sleep can make a world of difference.
