You might be showing affection to your partner on a daily basis, but do you take a moment to ensure that you’re conveying it in the manner that your spouse prefers to accept it? Whenever two couples have differing love languages, even love can be lost in translation.
Words of affirmation, quality time, receiving presents, acts of service, and physical contact are the five love languages, or means of expressing and receiving love. Not everybody expresses love in the same manner, and not everyone likes to accept love in the same way.
Gary Chapman, Ph.D., created the notion of love languages in his book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Lasting Love, in which he explains these five distinct methods of conveying love, categories he condensed from his expertise in marriage therapy and linguistics.
Here’s a rundown of each one of Chapman’s five love languages:
Words of affirmation
Those who use words of affirmation as a love language appreciate verbal expressions of affection, such as constant “I love yous,” praises, expressions of gratitude, vocal support, and often constant digital contact such as messages and social media involvement. These individuals value written and verbal expressions of love the most. They feel understood and valued when they hear these words.
Quality time
Those who have quality time as their love language feel the most appreciated when their spouse genuinely wants to spend more time with them and is always willing to hang out. They are especially fond of it when active listening, eye contact, and complete presence are stressed as relationship characteristics.
This love language is all about providing your entire focus to that one particular person, without any of the distractions of television, phone displays, or any other outside interference. Individuals have a great desire to constantly spend some time with their loved one, holding deep talks or participating in leisure pastimes.
Acts of services
If acts of service are your love language, you appreciate it whenever your spouse goes out of their way to make your life simpler. It’s little gestures like getting you food when you’re ill, preparing your morning coffee, or going to pick up your laundry after a hard day at work.
This is the love language of those who think that gestures speak louder than words. People on this list, unlike those who want to hear how much they are cared for, desire to be shown how they’re being cherished. Such people value doing minor and large duties to make their life simpler or perhaps more pleasant.
Gifts
Gifts are a simple love language: you feel appreciated when others offer you “visual expressions of affection,” as Chapman puts it. It’s not so much about the monetary worth as it is about the emotional significance behind the gift. Those with this personality appreciate as well as acknowledge the gift-giving process: the thorough contemplation, the intentional selection of the gift to symbolize the connection, and the emotional rewards of getting the gift.
Individuals whose language of love involves getting presents like obtaining something both tangible and meaningful. The idea is to offer thoughtful gifts that are significant to them and represent their beliefs, rather than yours.
Physical touch
Physical touch as a love language makes a person feel cherished when they receive physical indications of love such as kissing, holding hands, snuggling on the sofa, and intimacy. For persons who use this love language, physical closeness and touch may be extremely encouraging and serve as a powerful emotional bond.
When they are hugged, kissed, or snuggled, those who convey their thanks in this language feel valued. They enjoy the sensations of warmth and protection that come from physical contact.
We all show and experience love in various ways. As a result, recognising such differences may have a significant influence on our relationships. Indeed, it is one of the easiest methods to strengthen your relationships.
