You’ve probably heard the phrase “love language” before but unless you’ve read Gary Chapmans “The Five Love Languages” you probably don’t know much else about it. Your love language is not only how you express love, it’s how you receive love as well. This means that you may express your love through one language but receive it through a totally different one. The 5 love languages are: Words of Affirmations, Gifts, Acts of Service, Quality Time, and Physical Touch. You likely give and receive a combination of these and it’s also possible that your love language can change over time and even daily. But why is it so important to know your partner’s love language? How can knowing their love language help you strengthen your bond and relationship with one another?
Allows You to Communicate Your Needs
Direct communication in a relationship is so important but do you ever wish your partner could just instinctively know what you need from them when you need it? When your partner knows what your love language is, they can automatically satisfy your needs before you need to say anything. If you and your partner don’t know your love language yet, take the test and find out. Once you know you can start communicating with each other and letting the other one know that it makes you feel loved, appreciated, needed, etc. when they do x, y, or z.
You’ll Feel More Appreciated
Knowing your partner’s love language will help you discern how they show their love so you can feel more appreciated. Often times it’s not that our partner doesn’t love us, it’s that they love us only in the ways that they know how to love us. When your partner knows that you need physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, etc. then they can begin to show you love in the ways in which you need them to show you.
Enhances Thoughtfulness
If you know that your partner likes physical touch or words of affirmation, you’ll be more likely to give them those things. In turn, you and your partner will become more thoughtful and loving towards one another. Knowing each other’s love language causes you to be more conscious about what you, and what they can do, to show love to one another.
Learning you and your partner’s love language will have a profoundly positive effect on your marriage. Not only will you discover how you give and receive love, but you’ll know when your partner is giving you love even if it doesn’t always look like the love you “wanted” to be receiving. Acts of love in a relationship are everywhere, you just have to open your heart and receive. If you and your partner are struggling to discover your love languages and implement them into your relationship, we can help. Call us today to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors and we can help you get on the path to a happy, healthy, and loving relationship