Love language is described as the way a person prefers to express love to others and how they prefer to receive it. It’s a phrase that has made its way onto the scene within the past couple of years and it’s something I think everyone could benefit from knowing about themselves. It can help us understand our own behaviors and wants, while also allowing us to explore the way we express our love and care for our loved ones.
First off, what are love languages? T
he five love languages are described as gift giving/receiving, words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, and quality time. These are the languages that you find yourself giving out and the ones you enjoy receiving. Love languages can differ as well, as the love language you express to others can be different than the one you prefer receiving. Many people also believe they have multiple love language preferences, and some of them even overlap, such as acts of service and quality time. However, most of us have one main language that we prefer, so we’ll go over what each love language entails and how this might manifest in you and others.
- Gift Giving and Receiving
This can look like buying a gift for a loved one that has had their eye on a particular item for a while, taking a loved one on a trip that you spared the expense for, making a craft or item to give to a loved one, or taking someone out to dinner as a treat. If you find yourself using this to express love to others, this may be your love language! If you also find yourself enjoying receiving these types of gifts, then gift-receiving may be the love language you prefer being on the receiving end of. There are many resources out there to learn more about the gift-giving/receiving love language if you want to dive in and explore this more if you think it’s applicable to you!
- Words of Affirmation
This is a simple way to show love to others but can be incredibly meaningful. Encouragement to others when they’re accomplishing a goal or task, positive talk about someone’s personality or attributes, notes left for others that contain positive messages and showing gratitude and appreciation for someone being in your life are some ways words of affirmation manifest as a love language. If you find yourself identifying with any of these, then words of affirmation could be one of the ways you prefer expressing your love. If you enjoy receiving these types of affirmations, then this could be your preferred way of receiving love from others.
- Physical Touch
Many people in my personal life have this as their preferred love language and I find myself encountering many people who say physical touch is their love language. Physical touch can be shown through hugs, hand-holding, snuggling, dancing together, kissing, or just maintaining an air of closeness. Do these appeal to you? If so, physical touch and closeness could be the love language that you prefer to give out or receive.
- Acts of Service
This is my personal love language and I also find many other people identify with this one as well. It’s another simple but incredibly meaningful way to show people that you’re there for them and that you care. Some examples of acts of service are cleaning for others, cooking someone a meal or baking for them, doing a task for someone that they might not want to do themselves, randomly taking them to their favorite place, picking up their favorite snacks, and many others. I also find this one overlapping with gift-giving a lot since they are similar in many ways when it comes to expressing love. If you enjoy doing any of these for your loved ones or receiving them, then acts of service could be your love language!
- Quality Time
Last but certainly not least is quality time. This is another low-maintenance but heartfelt way to show someone you love them. It does not always have to be an elaborate outing spent with those you care for, which is why quality time can be so easy to achieve. Quality time can look like going out on a walk with your loved one, sitting and watching a movie at home, cooking or baking together, having a meal together, scheduling weekly dates or hangouts, playing a video game together, or crafting together. If these appeal to you, then quality time could be your love language!
I encourage all to discover their love languages and to also find out what their loved ones’ love languages are as well. This can make expressing ourselves much easier and allows for open communication about wants and needs. Love languages can manifest in many different ways than the ones I listed in this article, so be sure to identify your own personal actions and go from there!