Saying "I love you" is not the only way to let someone know how you feel. There are several verbal and non-verbal ways to express your feelings.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Verbal Expressions
Step 1. Give him or her a compliment
A heartfelt compliment can be a gentle way to let the person you love know how much you admire him / her. Choose a nice physical quality (eyes and smile are always safe choices), a personality trait or an action to emphasize. Whatever you choose, it should be something that makes the compliment recipient happy and valuable.
Learn how to communicate a romantic compliment. While the content of the compliment itself is nice, it also matters a lot how you say it. Make the tone romantic by keeping eye contact and smiling as you speak - it will naturally add a pleasant inflection to your voice. (Try this trick when you answer the phone sometimes and see if you notice the difference). Keep your voice high, but turn the volume down - speaking softly immediately communicates intimacy, and you can get people to approach you to hear you. If all this seems a bit difficult to you, practice in front of the mirror. It is an excellent technique to keep in mind
Step 2. Express Concern
In part, loving someone is wanting the best for him / her. You can emphasize this attitude by asking the person you love if they are okay. For example, if you know he / she had a difficult day yesterday, gently ask how it is today. If you are running an errand, ask if there is anything you can buy for the one you love while you are out. If he / she is going through a particularly difficult situation, tell him / her that you would be happy to help him / her in any way. Using your own words to show how much you care makes a difference.
Step 3. Say "I love you"
When you don't have to, it's the clearest way to communicate that you love someone. Here are some tips on how to make the experience more meaningful:
- Do it in person. Telling someone you love them through a message, email or chat doesn't have the same impact as saying it out loud. If you think you can't tell the person's face, do it over the phone.
- Balance your expectations. Do not let the experience depend on the other person telling you back. You should say this because you want to let him / her know how you feel, not because you need validation or expect something in return. Focus on being happy because you are able to express your feelings and make another person feel appreciated.
- Pick the right time. Ideally, the moment you tell someone you love him / her should be intimate and uninterrupted. Choose a place where you can express yourself without feeling embarrassed or worrying about someone else getting in the way.
- Keep the tone of the conversation light. Some people may perceive "I love you" as an indicator of a higher level of commitment. Do not automatically think that the other person is ready to take the relationship to a higher level. Instead, introduce your words by saying that you are not asking for anything in return and that you do not want the other person to feel under pressure. This will help him / her enjoy the moment without worrying about what might happen next.
- Maintain eye contact. It might seem scary to look into her eyes as you lay bare your feelings, but try to do it. It will make you seem more honest and sincere, and at the same time it will increase the intimacy of the moment.
- Make sure there are no awkward silences. If the person you adore remains silent after your confession, find a way to resume a normal conversation. Say something like "You don't have to say something. I'm just glad I told you how I feel”and continue as usual. If an answer comes, it will be in his own time.
Method 2 of 2: Non-verbal Expressions
Step 1. Write a nice letter
You don't have to explicitly write "I love you" in the letter, but you can emphasize the things you appreciate about the other person. Many people prefer to write their feelings down because it gives you time to re-read your words to make them sound right.
- If possible, write down your feelings with pen and paper instead of on a computer. Your unique handwriting adds a personal touch to the letter, and he / she may like to have a concrete object that represents your feelings.
- Before you begin, write down notes of all the things you appreciate and like about him / her. Write down the experiences you have lived together, or the things that remind you of the other person.
- Get a nice sheet of paper. If you don't have any writing paper on hand, use white golio - it will look neater than a sheet of notebook.
Step 2. Maintain eye contact
When you can, meet the other person's eyes. Don't stare at him constantly, but let him catch you while you're looking at him for a moment. When you notice it, smile a little and hold your gaze for another second before looking elsewhere.
Step 3. Show your feelings through your actions
Non-verbal clues matter a lot, and allow the other person to understand how you feel without you having to expose yourself too much. Here are some possibilities:
- You smile. The best thing you can do is also the simplest - give your loved one a sincere smile whenever you can. When you do, try to look him in the eye for a little over a second.
- Make your body language sound receptive. A negative effect of being nervous when the person you like is around could be reflected in closed or inaccessible body language. Try to show the opposite by keeping your arms outstretched, extended at your sides or joined behind your back. Turn to the other person when you talk to him / her, including the feet. Tilt your head towards him / her when you look him / her in the eye.
- Don't worry about blushing. You can't control when your cheeks are blushing anyway, but if you notice it's happening in his presence, don't mind it. Somehow, blushing is a good sign to let the other person understand how you feel - so let it take effect!
- He winks. If you are able, try to give him / her a wink from time to time. Don't do this too often - no more than once every few days.
Step 4. Try some light physical contact
Starting to have physical contact with someone suggests that you would like more intimacy. Start small, walking or sitting next to the other person. If that's okay, try lightly touching her arm during a conversation. Other possibilities besides this include putting an arm around the shoulders of the other person, bumping him lightly with the hips, and making a foot.
Step 5. Do small favors without saying a word
Sometimes, the most appreciated favor is the one you don't even have to ask for. If you know for sure that he / she needs to do something or would appreciate a certain gesture, just do it. When the other person discovers your gesture, just smile. If you have to make a comment, say "I wanted to help you" or "You're welcome". Don't make it too big a matter - leave the action aside and tell him how much you care about him / her.
Advice
- Acknowledge your feelings. Falling in love is perfectly natural, as is wanting to show someone how you feel. Don't make excuses for your feelings.
- Don't say it too much. If you tell someone you love them 15 times a day, it starts to lose meaning. Find different verbal expressions and add some non-verbal clues instead.
- Don't lose yourself in loving the other person.
- Try not to be offended if the person you love doesn't share your feelings. Accept it elegantly, and continue to be a good friend. You cannot know if the other person will begin to have these feelings towards you later in time.
- After you have overcome the initial obstacle of "I love you", try to send a short and sweet message to the other person, often enough to remind him of your feelings.
- If you know that the other person does not love you, do not try to do the latter.
