8 SIGNS THAT YOUR PARTNER TRULY LOVES YOU Written By Sharvil Arolkar 8 SIGNS THAT YOUR PARTNER TRULY LOVES YOU Love is beautiful. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage. To be brave is to love someone unconditionally without expecting anything in return. Just to give. True unconditional love goes beyond your idea of an ideal lover and accepting your partner the way they are. It means embracing their flaws and imperfections and not expecting that they should change for you. How can you identify if the love between you and your partner is unconditional? For better clarity, let us understand the 8 SIGNS THAT YOUR PARTNER TRULY LOVES YOU. SIGN #1: They Consider Your Happiness When someone loves you, they will be concerned about your happiness. Whether it's planning fun dates or lending a helping hand when you need it, caring about your needs—within reason—is a sign that your partner loves you. With that being said, it's important to remember that adult relationships come with conditions, and there are certain things that a partner might not feel comfortable doing for their significant other; caring about and prioritizing your happiness does not mean your partner will do everything you ask, and that's perfectly fine. SIGN #2: They're Respectful Respect is what makes us feel free to express ourselves and remain honest with one another. And if your partner truly respects you, they will treat you as their equal. If you're wondering exactly how your partner feels about you, it's important to take a closer look at how they treat you. Are they kind, respectful, and warm, or are they distant, dismissive, and degrading? When you're trying to figure out if your partner's in love with you, words, as well as actions, speak volumes regarding their true feelings about 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. Other signs of respect to look for include: • honesty • clear, prompt communication • polite and considerate language, even during arguments • no pressure to set your boundaries aside SIGN #3: 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. Everyone experiences annoyance and anger on occasion, but it’s possible to express anger in safe, healthy ways. A partner who loves you won’t threaten you or use anger to punish you or make you afraid. If they do have an angry outburst, they might agree right away to get help — not just to improve for themselves, but also because they saw your fear and want to help you feel safe again. SIGN #4: They Listen to You A partner who loves you will take an active interest in the details of your life. They’ll listen actively by asking questions and waiting their turn to share instead of immediately diverting the conversation toward their own experiences. While they may not hear or remember every word you say, they’ll generally have a pretty solid awareness of the things that matter most: your likes and dislikes, hopes and fears, friendships and family relationships, and so on. In a healthy relationship, partners acknowledge the bad as well as the good. When you bring up concerns or relationship problem, they’ll consider your feelings instead of ignoring you or trying to minimize your distress. SIGN #5: They Communicate Love requires open, honest communication. A partner who loves you will acknowledge the need to communicate and show up, physically and mentally, when it’s time for a conversation. Good communication might involve: • discussing emotions • identifying and addressing areas of conflict • connecting through physical or emotional intimacy • checking in about relationship boundaries Communication doesn’t come easily to everyone. Instead of assuming a partner who has a hard time expressing thoughts and emotions doesn’t love you, look at their willingness to learn and practice better communication skills. SIGN #6: They're Excited About Your Future Together Have you and your partner made long-term plans? Do they speak openly and candidly about their hopes and dreams for the future of your relationship? When someone's in love with you, they won't be afraid to make long-term plans with you and will even feel comfortable talking about your life together as a couple. Whether you plan to attend a wedding together that's months away or you talk about where you see yourself living in five years, their excitement and passion for the future are really signs of their excitement, passion, and love for you. SIGN #7: They Fully Trust You Trust often develops along with love, and you typically won’t find one without the 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. This trust might not hold if you mislead, deceive, or betray them. Love often remains where trust has shattered, so you can sometimes rebuild this trust — but not without time, transparency, and hard work. Trust is at the core of any loving, happy, and healthy relationship, so if you're wondering if your S.O. is actually in love with you, another unmistakable sign is that they completely trust you. When your significant other trusts you wholeheartedly and feels they can rely on you for support, guidance, and encouragement, it can grow into a deep love over time. SIGN #8: They make an Effort Attraction might happen in an instant, but lasting love requires more time and commitment. It might seem romantic when someone immediately decides you’re “meant to be” or says “I think I love you” after just one day. But this sometimes suggests a controlling or manipulative personality, not true romance. With so many people in the world, the idea of one-and-only instant love can seem pretty flimsy. Sure, soul mates could exist, but it’s important to recognize that love typically doesn’t happen in a flash. Someone who truly cares will want to build your love from the ground and shore it up at the seams by: • • • • • prioritizing time together expressing an interest in getting to know you being prepared to talk through disagreements or conflict agreeing to try new things together expressing their commitment to mutual growth as partners SIGN #9: (BONUS) They acknowledge your differences instead of trying to change you No matter how much you and your partner share, you’re different people, so you won’t feel the same way about everything. Someone who loves you will accept your individual ideas and feelings as part of who you are. They might engage in some respectful debate, but they’ll show interest in your perspective instead of insisting you take their side. A loving partner may offer guidance and advice when asked, but they won’t try to control your choices or behavior. They also won’t withhold affection or criticize you until you agree with them. Generally speaking, you’ll feel comfortable when agreeing to disagree. BOTTOM LINE IS.. Falling in love is an exciting experience. When your partner loves you unconditionally, your whole outlook on life can become more positive and wonderful the longer that you’re together. Couple’s expert and author Stuart Fensterheim says that unconditional love is “so freeing and transformative because it lets you stop trying to change or control your partner. You’re free to work on yourself and find even better ways to live together in joy and love.” Being in love is a wonderful experience, and when your partner loves you unconditionally, it’s easier to let go and let yourself be more open and vulnerable than ever before. No relationship is perfect. There are going to be ups and downs and there are going to be people that aren’t right for us in the roller-coaster of dating and love. However, when you find the right person, and you realize that their love is not conditional, it makes the entire journey worth it.
