You haven’t told your partner that you love him yet but feel it bubbling just beneath the surface. If you’re nervous and don’t want to be the one to say it first, that’s okay. There are plenty of things you can do to show the guy how you feel without actually saying the words.
- Remember the things he says, important or otherwise. A great way to show someone you love them and care about what they have to say is by remembering the things they tell you. Of course, not everything we say to our significant others is going to be drenched in importance, but that’s not the point. Remember all kinds of things, big and small. Remember the story about the crazy staff meeting he had at work last week and bring it up again a few days later. Remember his favorite kind of candy to get at the movies and what songs get stuck in his head. These little details are what makes someone who they are, and when you keep those details stored in your head and heart, it shows someone how important your words are to them and how much you listen.
- Perform small acts of service. There’s nothing better than a grand gesture, though I think micro-gestures might just give them a run for their money. Doing small, thoughtful things for the person you love is not only rewarding and fun but it shows them just how special they are to you. Before your guy wakes up in the morning, make his cup of coffee for him and set it on the nightstand so it’s the first thing he wakes up to. Write a little love note to him and stick it in his lunch box or on the dashboard of his car before he heads off to work in the morning. Text him titles of songs throughout the day that remind you of him and tell him to listen to them. It’s those little things that let him know that you’re always thinking of him.
- Compromise when you can. When you love someone, their happiness is just as important to you as your own. So, if the two of you can’t agree on something and there’s a way for you to sway towards what he wants without compromising your own happiness, my advice is to do it. You’d be amazed how happy you’ll be to see that smile on his face and when you do things like that, it shows him that his opinions are truly important to you.
- Open up to him. Vulnerability is very important in relationships because it shows your partner that you truly trust them with your secrets and fears. Oftentimes, it’s harder for men to open up and show vulnerability to women because they worry it makes them seem weak. By opening up to him and letting him in on all your hopes and dreams, it will not only show him that you trust him with your heart, but it will also break the ice a little and make him more comfortable with opening up to you too.
- Include him in your future plans. When talking about vacations, future goals, or things you want out of life long-term, include him in your plans and voice those to him. This will show him that you envision him by your side through all the adventures and endeavors you’ll go on in your life and it will allow him to envision you in his future as well.
- Introduce him to the most important people in your life. Meeting the family is a big deal and sometimes meeting close friends is just as crucial. By introducing him to the people you value most in the world and the ones you’ve known the longest will show him just how important he is to you.
- Be affectionate. When you’re in love with someone, there’s no denying that it’s hard to keep your hands off them. If you’re not quite to the point in your relationship where the two of you are saying “I love you” yet, physically show your guy that you’re crazy about him by hugging him, kissing him, holding his hand, and cuddling with him every chance you get. Men are very physical beings by nature and they often view physical affection as a form of admiration. It’s a great way to show you care.
- Don’t be afraid to show him your imperfections. Entering a new relationship with someone can be tricky for women because we tend to try to appear completely perfect. We only want our guys to see us put together and flawless. You may be able to keep this act up for a while, but it gets truly exhausting and it’s completely unrealistic to look perfect all of the time. If you get to the point where you let your guy see you without makeup, in sweats, sprawled out on the couch with a bag of chips, I think it’s a good way to show him you love him.
- Find any excuse to be around him. Romantic dates are fun and all, but have you ever tagged along with your guy on a trip to Home Depot? Love isn’t about candlelight dinners and romantic walks on the beach every day. It’s about the little things that we have to do too like grocery runs, getting the oil changed in our cars, and waiting in line at UPS. When you love someone, you don’t necessarily care where you go just that you’re with them because you want to be with them as much as possible.
- Don’t be afraid to be goofy with him. Much like letting him see you without makeup and a cute outfit, letting your guy see your true, weird, and crazy personality is a great way to show him that you love him. If you trust that he loves you no matter what then you won’t be afraid or embarrassed to be goofy and silly around him.
- Prove it in the way you treat him. The best way to show a guy that you love him without saying it out loud is to treat him just how you want him to treat you. Respect him, be honest with him, show him compassion and understanding. You can say that you love someone all day long but if your actions don’t reflect it, how do you expect them to believe you? If you love him and want to keep him, show him that you do by never taking him for granted. Even if it’s a while before you say it out loud, trust me, he’ll know that you love him.