5 Ways to Make Your Partner Feel Special Based on Their Love Language
Listen: we’re all diverse and complex human beings. And we all have different preferences and needs when it comes to feeling loved by our partners. But if you identify your partner’s love language, you’ll be able to make them feel special in an intentional and loving way. To give them special Love Language Treats that fit exactly who they are.
After a full year of isolation, it seems as if we’ve collectively realized what is truly most important in life: deep emotional connections with those we love the most. We’ve learned tomorrow is not promised so we must hold our loved ones close today. And while the revelation in itself is something to be celebrated, the real work comes in making sure our partners feel it too.
Navigating affection at any stage of a relationship can be daunting, but understanding your partner’s love language can be immensely helpful.
Love Languages of Affirmation and Touch
The first love language is Words of Affirmation, which is as direct as it sounds. Those who identify with this love language feel most loved when their partner gives them thoughtful words of encouragement.
If that's your partner, try to be consistent with these love language treats! It’s not necessarily one big gesture that will make them feel loved and secure. Instead, ensure that every day you are thanking them for all they do for you, recognizing when they’re making it through a hard day, and giving compliments out of the blue. It’s those little commitments to words of affirmation that add up to a feeling of wholeness for your partner.
If you do want to create a gift based on words of affirmation, consider a mason jar filled with little pieces of paper inscribed with things you love about them. Any time they’re in need of a pick-me-up, they can open the jar and read your loving words.
Another common love language is Physical Touch, which extends beyond our general conceptions. Physical Touch offers a feeling of safety that make partners feel deeply loved. Therefore, this mode can be achieved through something as simple as holding hands or resting your hand behind your partner’s head.
Emotional intimacy thrives on subtle physical gestures of trust, and this is a wonderful way to make your partner feel worthy and secure.
And even when you can’t be physically close to your partners, you can still touch them, no matter how far they are.
Loving Treats and and a little Service
The third love language, Receiving Gifts, involves an individual feeling loved and appreciated when their partner gives them a thoughtful gift. A common misconception is that this means one must spend excessive amounts of money on extravagant presents. On the contrary, gift giving can involve small, simple, and sentimental gifts.
Whether it’s giving your partner a bouquet of their favorite flowers or making a collage of their favorite photographs, gift giving is more about the intention behind the gift than the item itself. If you can, try to deliver these gifts on nonholidays – by making a random Tuesday night a special night, you’re adding spontaneous joy to your relationship.
The fourth love language is Acts of Service, which sounds more complicated than it is. An Act of Service can be something as simple as running an errand for your partner, cleaning the bedroom while they’re busy, or cooking them their favorite meal for dinner.
The key to this love language treat is intuition; it’s all about sensing what your partner needs without them necessarily having to ask you. For a lot of people, feeling as if there is an unspoken understanding of needs is essential to feeling secure and loved.
Time for a final treat
The final love language is Quality Time, which we’ve got a unique abundance of right now. Many people feel most loved when their partner gives them undivided attention. This can be especially difficult with the whole technological world in the palm of our hands, but prioritizing one on one time is essential for any relationship.
This definitely doesn’t have to mean silently staring into each other’s eyes for an hour. Instead, think about having a special deep late-night conversation, or planning a spontaneous road trip, or setting up a picnic at the end of a long week. Though we’re in close quarters, it’s not often we find ourselves in total sync with our partners.
It is that feeling of being wholly seen and understood that makes love so indescribably special.
The beauty of these love language treats is that there isn’t necessarily one right answer. Your partner might respond well to a mix of a few! But what’s so exciting is embarking on the adventure of getting to know your partner on an even deeper level, and it’s a continuously rewarding process.
