People feel and express our emotions in many different ways, both positive and negative. Just as, for example, there are those who manage anger by shouting and other people vent it through crying, we also manifest love in different ways.
The American writer Gary Chapman is the author of the book “The Five Love Languages”, in which he develops five different ways in which humans express love for our loved ones. Now, there can be more than one love language in the same person, but Chapman maintains that there will always be one that prevails over the rest.
The love language of each person is their way of showing others that they care and love them. Therefore, it is important that we understand both our own language and that of the other person. Perhaps you show love through words of affirmation and expect to receive them in return, while your partner prefers physical contact and you are less affectionate. Hence the importance of recognizing and understanding the five love languages, even if you don’t put them all into practice.
This language of love consists of doing helpful acts for the other person in a generous way and without expecting anything in return. They are not done as a favor, but as something that is genuinely born to the person, moved by her love for the other. Some examples would be cooking for the other person, fixing something broken in her house, ironing her clothes, or driving her to a doctor’s appointment.
In this case, the person manifests his love through affection and physical contact. They are affectionate people, who like to give hugs, kisses, caresses, snuggle with the other person on the sofa, shake hands on the street or put their hand on their leg while driving, for example. Sexual relations are also included in this section.
Whoever expresses his love through words of affirmation is constantly praising and flattering the other person. This is making positive observations about your physique (“how handsome you are”), but also about your own emotions (“I am very pleased with you”) or evaluations of the other person (“I am proud of you”).
Another language of love defined by Gary Chapman is that of gifts. Whoever is guided by this principle shows their love by giving gifts to the other person and they also feel loved when they receive them. They do not have to be large material objects or excessively expensive, but they are also small details such as returning from the supermarket bringing that person his favorite chocolates.
In this case, the person expresses their love by spending quality time with the other, planning special and original or rather simple plans, but dedicating all their attention to the other, without distractions. It can be a romantic dinner, a getaway to get out of the routine or a walk at sunset in which you only concentrate on each other and on your conversation and company.