Romantic love can feel pretty fantastic. There’s a reason why love features as a central topic in so many stories throughout the centuries of human history.
People often say you’ll just know when someone loves you. There’s some truth to that, though it may not show up in the extravagant gestures you see in the media.
SIGNS THAT SOMEONE LOVE YOU, EVEN IF IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE IT
You feel safe with them
Safety is a cornerstone of loving relationships. A partner who loves you won’t physically hurt you or damage your possessions. They also won’t threaten or pressure you into doing things you don’t want to do, make decisions for you, or cut you off from your social support.
Feeling safe also means feeling free to make your own decisions and express yourself without fearing their response. When you share opinions and goals, you receive encouragement, not putdowns or criticism.
They listen
They’ll listen actively by asking questions and waiting their turn to share instead of immediately diverting the conversation toward their own experiences. You get the sense they really care, instead of feeling brushed off with a distracted “Uh huh” or “Wow, that sucks.”
You can communicate easily
Love requires open, honest communication. This doesn’t mean sharing every thought you have. Everyone has some private feelings, and there’s nothing wrong with keeping these to yourself.
READ: 7 Signs Someone is In Love With You
They encourage you to do your own thing
Certainly, partners should enjoy each other’s company. A loving partner, however, will also recognize you have a separate identity outside the relationship and support you when you want to spend time seeing friends or pursuing your own hobbies.
They’ll also maintain their own friendships and interests instead of looking to you to entertain them or fulfill all their social needs.
Your partner may not always agree with the way you spend your time. When you do something that worries them, like spending a lot of time with a toxic friend or drinking too much, they might express respectful concern: “I’ve noticed [X] isn’t very nice to you sometimes,” for example.
You trust each other
A partner who loves you will likely trust you, unless you betray them. They won’t question you when you see friends, follow you, or go through your phone or computer.
If they have no reason to believe you’ve been dishonest, they won’t accuse you of lying or cheating, or insist you go everywhere together.
Trust also means they feel safe enough to share opinions and emotions, open up about challenges they face, and ask for help.
They respect you
Loving relationships can’t thrive without respect. A partner who respects you will show that they value you and your time together. They’ll also support your choices, even when they don’t agree.
