5 Simple Ways to Show Love
Check out my podcast, Coffee with Kyndra, to listen to the other five ways to show love to someone!
Hello, everyone!
I wanted to share simple ways to show we love and care about someone! Now, this doesn't have to be for your significant other. These acts of love are universal. These could be used with your best friends, coworkers, family members, or whoever you want to show love to!
FIVE WAYS TO SHOW LOVE TO SOMEONE
1. Be Present
Spending time with someone could look like scrolling on your phone, sharing memes, or watching a juicy show together. But, if they are talking to you, it's respectful and an act of love if you put your phone away, turn the TV down, lessen distractions, and be present with them.
By minimizing distractions and giving that person your full attention, you're showing you care about what that person has to say, and you are present with them in their feelings or whatever interests them in conversation. Being present can also mean being an active listener. Make eye contact, nod your head when necessary, and ask questions. People want to be heard. So, show them that you are present and listening attentively.
2. Show Empathy
Now that you are present with this person, another way you can show your love to someone is by showing empathy for their feelings. Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person's feelings. You can show empathy by putting yourself in that person's shoes or seeing things from their perspective, even if it is not a perspective you ultimately agree with.
Showing you understand where that person is coming from, especially in challenging situations, is an act of love. It doesn't take much to listen to someone and know how they feel. When I talk to my husband about how I'm feeling, and he understands "my side of the story," it makes me feel seen and even more loved by him at the same time, even if he doesn't agree with me. Just listening to me and showing he cares goes a long way. It's a warm feeling; you should offer that to the person you love, too.
3. Do Something Unexpected
This kind of goes along with a tip I offered in my podcast but doing something unexpected is a great and easy way to show you love someone. This doesn't have to be anything extravagant, either. For example, if I borrow my husband's car he uses to travel to work, I will fill up his gas tank or wash the car for him. He did not tell me to. I do it as an act of kindness, and this could cater to one of the five love languages, which is acts of service. Or, now that I moved away from my hometown, my mom loves sending me sweet cards in the mail, reminding me she's thinking of me, even though she could just pick up the phone and call. It's the little unexpected things humans love, so why not do it to others?
Leave sticky notes for the person you love in their car or bathroom mirror or where they will see it. Or surprise them with a homemade cooked dinner after they get off work or offer to take them to see that movie they've been dying to see but never made time to get the ticket and pick a date. Unexpected gestures and gifts are always a great way to show love to someone. As mentioned above, this can also cater to different love languages. It shows you cared and thought about them when they didn't think of it. They will definitely feel loved.
4. Show Appreciation
People love being shown they are appreciated. Saying thank you or going out of your way to show appreciation to someone is a great way to show you love someone. For example, a great friend of mine helped revamp this website and my social media accounts. To show my appreciation to her, I sent her a lovely message and some money, even though she expressed she did this for fun and as a friend. She emphasized she didn't need to be paid. Although I know she couldn't care less about the money or my long, meaningful text, I know (hoped) she felt loved in that moment.
Give a thank you card, gift card, or words of affirmation to those you love and express your appreciation for them. Sometimes, people feel underappreciated simply because they do not hear enough that they are appreciated. I'm sure whoever you want to show love to will love to hear praise and be noticed for the gestures they have given to you.
5. Show Physical Affection
Physical affection does not have to be intimacy or sex. This could be as simple as hugging a friend, holding hands with your partner, or being near someone. As I mentioned in my podcast, humans long for connection. Connecting closely with other humans, including physical contact, is in our DNA. Touch is a powerful thing.
If you haven't seen that friend in a long time, offer a hug! Sit close to your best friends when talking or hold hands while you're with your partner in the car. Physical touch is a powerful way to show love to someone!
If you enjoyed this blog post, please tap the heart in the bottom right corner and let me know ways you show love to someone on my Instagram!
With love,
Kyndra <3
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