Every person can love. Even Thanos proved to love his adopted daughter, didn’t he? When he got the soul stone? That’s already on the premise that he’s a titan. How much more can a human not feel the love? However, despite the universality of the concept of love, it is often exemplified in a multitude of ways. We tend to speak different love languages.
More than just the importance of love languages in building understanding and trust, these manifestations of love have physical and psychological benefits.
- Words Of Affirmation
In this love language, your partner needs to hear you speak your mind, but you don’t have to bring it as far as fabricating lies and empty praises. Instead, you have to vocalize your “I love you.”, “I miss you.”, “I care for you.”, “I’m proud of you.”, Etc. That’s when they feel they’re loved.
Sometimes, what hinders a person from performing well are the voices inside their heads that tell them they’re not good enough. Words of affirmation from you have direct effects on your partner’s mental health. It increases your partner’s focus and concentration; thereby building their confidence, translating to endurance and stronger performance. Remember what Dr. Aaron Kaplan, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist says “practice using words that promote feelings of self-worth and personal power. Give yourself a positive pep-talk.”
- Acts Of Service
In this love language, it becomes true that actions speak louder than words. Your partner appreciates more that you take care of them in times of exhaustion, that you cook for them, etc. While they’d love to hear words, they become more secure while seeing you make efforts. That’s when they know they’re loved. “Happy people do things differently. They make their emotional wellbeing a priority and practice daily and weekly habits that help them create joy, happiness and satisfaction in their lives.” That is according to Dr. Chantal Gagnon PhD LMHC.
Acts of service fill various aspects of your partner’s health–mental, emotional, and physical. As you do things for your partner, their burdens become lighter as they see that somebody is willing to share it with them. It lowers down anxiety, thereby minimizing its physical manifestations of stress such as headaches and high blood pressure.
- Receiving Gifts
In this love language, your partner greatly appreciates gifts. Not that it’s the price nor the material thing that matters, your partner looks more into the thought behind the gift. They appreciate knowing the efforts behind the gift they received. Hand-crafted gifts and surprises mean a lot. That’s when they feel they’re loved.
The psychology behind receiving gifts works like being rewarded through customer loyalty points. Receiving something increases the hormone dopamine, which affects the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. It has the effect of lifting the mood and easing stress and anxiety.
- Physical Touch
In this love language, your partner yearns for a more physical manifestation of love. It doesn’t mean you have to bring it to bed all the time. Sometimes, there are no words that could ease their anxieties and pain; but a simple tap on the back, a tight hug, or a warm hold in the hands is all they need. That’s when they feel they’re loved.
The physical touch from you increases the level of your partner’s serotonin, endorphin, and oxytocin – hormones that are all related to happiness and a good mood. It eases muscular pain and aids body processes such as digestion and respiration. It also boosts antibodies that improving immunity against sickness.
- Quality Time
This love language is perhaps the most minimalist of all. You don’t need to speak praises, do all those efforts to make an extra date special, prepare a gift, nor be physically intimate. Marc Romano, PsyD says “Focus on yourself and your own happiness and do not compare yourself to others.” Although these are all good things, your partner needs nothing more than you being there, physically and emotionally. That’s when they feel they’re loved.
The quality time directly addresses your partner’s emotional wellness. According to a study, people are twice as happy when spending time with their partners compared to when they’re not. Everyday activities which seem to be tiring and boring when done alone suddenly become more meaningful and easy.
Regardless of the love language, being able to speak it to your partner does wonders regarding their overall health and well-being. You may only be surprised by its numerous benefits not only to you and your partner’s physical health but also to the strengthening of your relationship.