Saying "I love you" needs to make you feel good. It should be said out of a genuine desire to share your feelings with your partner.
Saying "I love you" for the first time is an important moment in a relationship. But the timing will be different for different couples, because love develops over time and is felt at different rates. So, it's natural to wonder what to do with the timing of saying "I love you" and the best way to show your love to your significant other.
While there's no one-size-fits-all way to say "I love you" the first time, the following advice is given to help you decide when and how to say it best:
Saying "I love you" needs to make you feel good. It should be said out of a genuine desire to share your feelings with your partner.
It should not be said that it was out of obligation or pressure. Nor should it say keeping your relationship going or keeping up with how your partner feels about you.
The best reason to say "I love you" is because that's how you really feel.
For example, things can get tricky if your partner says "I love you" first and you're not sure if you feel loved. If you don't talk to them, you may worry about damaging your relationship or hurting their feelings, but it's important to only speak up when you're ready and sure of your emotions.
Yes, you may hurt your partner's feelings, but lying to avoid hurting your partner is not the answer. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, remember that these three words are special and mean a lot, so there's no need to rush or say them just because you think you should. If you're not ready to say, "I love you," there are other ways to show that you care about your partner.
When you show love to your partner, you can't avoid feeling vulnerable. That's why you might want your partner to say these three words in front of you. But if you're in a healthy and stable relationship, it doesn't matter who speaks first. Ideally, you both develop feelings of love for each other, even if one of you feels and expresses it first. Don't worry if your partner doesn't respond right away when you're the first to express your love.
Remind yourself how long it takes people to develop these feelings, and not everyone is equally comfortable expressing them. You should be honest with yourself and your partner about your feelings (again, as long as your reasons for saying "I love you" are valid).
