It cannot be denied that many people suffer through life without ever expressing their true thoughts to a loved one in an acceptable way. For some people, the expression “I love you” is used quite loosely, and has almost lost all meaning, but for others, those three words can often be some of the hardest they’ll ever have to say. But what is love, and how do we know we’re ‘in’ it? How do we best say those three words? And what’s the right way to express our love for another? To bridge that often large gap between two loving hearts, we have given you some of the best tips that will allow you to express your love in the most appropriate way. You can also take suggestions from your friends and family in dealing with such sensitive matters.

What Is Love?

It is vital to understand the meaning of love before we attempt to express it. When you come to know about the word in the right perspective, then you can distinctively understand the difference between love, lust, and mere infatuation. This will make it clear what kind of feelings you have for the person you hold dear.

You should be able to feel love when you experience it. Love can occur instantly, like ‘love at first sight’, or it can be a slow process, which may start as friends and then develop into something more. However you get there, though, it’s important to acknowledge the feelings you have for the other person, and then express them.

How Should You Express Love?

Eye contact is essential when expressing your love for another. Maintaining eye contact is vital to ensure that the person you’re telling thinks you’re being genuine. Eye contact can also be inherently romantic, and lead to a perfect moment that will be remembered by both you and your loved one for many years. You can even take the hands of the other person to further express your deep affection for them.

Timing

Getting the timing right is also very important when expressing your love. Depending on the kind of relationship you have with the person, and their own personality, there will be right and wrong times to tell them how you feel. If you’re already good friends with them, you may spend a lot of time with them alone. These alone times are the perfect time to take your relationship to the next level. However, if you don’t know the person very well, proclaiming your love for them in front of all their friends and family may not be the best time, as it can be an embarrassing situation for everyone involved! That said, some people might find it brave and passionate! You have to be very confident that you’ll get a positive reaction if you decide to declare your love in public.

Confidence

On the subject of confidence, you should be one of two things when expressing your love: either confident that your feelings will be reciprocated, or confident that you won’t be too disappointed if they aren’t. You should not expect an immediate response from your loved one: they might be a little shocked or taken aback by your declaration, and may need time to process it. The important thing is that you have shared your truth; what then follows will determine whether your love was meant to be or not.

Creativity

One way of expressing love that transcends cultures and languages is through creative methods: artwork, poetry, letters etc. In today’s society of instant messaging, it is more romantic than ever to receive a letter or a poem from a loved one, especially if it’s hand-written and full of passion. Try sending your loved one a letter or poem explaining your feelings, and waiting for their response. The wait may be excruciating, but it can also be exciting to wonder about how they might react! Besides, if your words are true, and they feel the same, than it’s a good kind of excitement!

Expressions of Non-Romantic Love

You should practice expressing unconditional love towards your nearest and dearest ones to show that how much you love for them in your heart as well. Love towards newborn babies, parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, animals and more is a universal form of love. It is crucial to make sure you let your family and close friends know that you love them as well; it’s vital for ensuring that your relationships are long and meaningful, and will help you all to love and support each other throughout your life. So, while you might be focused on expressing your love for the love of your life, don’t forget to tell you family you love them too.