Love Language #: Gifts
Those of us whose love language is gifts arent necessarily materialistic. Instead, their tanks are filled when someone presents them with a specific thing, tangible or intangible, that helps them feel special. Yes, truly, its the thought that counts.
When youre out grabbing groceries for your family, pick up your roommates favorite kombucha or seltzer and drop it by their door. Our daughter whose love language is gifts is a junior in college and we know shell adore whats in the box soon to arrive in the mail: a small package covered in valentine stickers and containing her favorite chocolates, gift cards for coffee and a framed picture of our family dogs, Fred and George. Its an act of love that will fill her mailbox and her emotional bank account.
Love Language #: Physical Touch
Expressing the language of physical touch can be as platonic as giving a friend an enthusiastic fist-bump when she tells you about landing an interview for a dream job or as intimate as a kiss with your partner to mark the end of the workday.
I know that for some parents with young children, spending too much time in the same small space has created a rub literally. Theyd do anything to have fewer people touching them fewer hours of the day. At the same time, for those living alone or those self-isolating because of their exposure or health risks, theyre experiencing the painful opposite: a lack of touch.
While there are no easy solutions for either case, we can get creative. If you know someone whos overwhelmed by the small hands reaching for them, you might offer to take the kids to a park so they can run off some of their energy. For loved ones who are touch-deprived, try emailing them an outline of your hand and instruct them to lay their hand on the image while imagining your hand on theirs. Even thinking about a warm embrace something you can do by texting friends and family members with the hug or hugging face emoji and telling you wish you could be doing this in person can cause their brain to produce some of the same endorphins as an actual hug would.
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Why Do I Constantly Need To Be In Control
Wanting things to go well is perfectly normal, but sometimes this need for perfection can represent a huge barrier in our lives. Do you have trouble not giving in to the temptation of micromanaging everything in your life? Does leaving things to chance make you nervous and put you on edge? Where does your need to control everything come from? Letting go and becoming more easygoing will change everything for you and help you start living your best life. Discover how to let loose and free yourself from this need.
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Use Active Listening Skills
Active listening is one of the most loving things you can do for your partner, but for many people, this doesnt come naturally. Instead, most people think about their own thoughts and opinions more than they think about their partners.
When quality time people are talking, try the following active listening skills:
- Focus on what they are saying.
- Lean in slightly.
- Affirm what they are saying.
- Ask thoughtful questions.
- Avoid trying to offer advice, unless they ask for it.
- Try putting yourself in their shoes or thinking about how you might feel in the same situation.
Quality time partners are more interested in feeling understood. They are looking for empathy and compassion and dont always want to have their situations fixed.
Beyond The Five Love Languages

Now that we have a clear understanding of Gary Chapmans Five Love Languages, lets talk about how theyve been received and how they have changed since 1992. Chapman himself will be the first to admit that his five love languages are just a framework. They are a place to start, not an all-encompassing, exclusive way to love those in your life. Hes adapted his original book for couples to books on the love languages for children, singles, teenagers, men, and even one specifically for military service members. Hes created podcasts, radio shows, and conferences on the topic. Counselors, relationship experts, and even employers all over the world have turned to Chapmans concept as a guide for understanding how humans connect with one another.
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Examples Of Words Of Affirmation
Here are a few examples of words of affirmation:
- “Everything is better when you’re here.”
- “I appreciate it when you…”
- “I couldn’t do this without you.”
- “I really love the new outfit. It looks great on you!”
- “I’m so lucky to be with you.”
- “Im so thankful to have you in my life.”
- “It impressed me when you…”
- “Thank you for…”
- “Your support means so much to me.”
- “Youre an inspiration!”
Words of affirmation can also be important in other types of interpersonal relationships. For example, you might use different types of positive affirmations to show kindness and gratitude toward your family members, friends, boss, or co-workers.
The 5 Love Languages Website Is Filled With Ebooks Workbooks Study Guides And Podcasts You Can Pair With The Quiz And The Book To
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The five love languages Words of Affirmation One of your deepest needs is the need to feel appreciated. Gary Chapmans studies which are world-famous as an anthropologist and couple specialist. The 5 Love Languages Quiz is easy insightful and always free.
Gary Chapmans best-selling book The Five Love Languages has helped more than 300000 couples develop stronger more fulfilling relationships by teaching them to speak. Helping Organizations Create Healthy Workplace Cultures. Take this quiz to discover your primary love language what it means and how you can use it to better connect with your loved ones.
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Review Of The 5 Love Languages By Gary Chapman
Posted on Last updated: December 5, 2022
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Are you looking to transform a relationship, or even to simply understand and appreciate yourself or someone else better? This summary and review of The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman explores the languages we use to show and accept love. I also link to the free 5 Love Languages quiz so you can find out your own language for Valentines Day or any day!
Im no stranger to personality quizzes. I swear by the MBTI and an Enneagram 6 I have found learning about my personality types to be so influential to me in understanding my strengths and weaknesses, which informs every other area of my life.
As for my love language, before I even took the free 5 Love Languages quiz I knew I would be a quality time gal. I always feel best when I am doing something anything with my husband, and when hes not around, I feel lost and lack motivation. While some relationships thrive on space and time apart, I would feel unloved if he were consistently doing activities without me.
Check out more details about Gary Chapmans The 5 Love Languages book and how it can pertain to your life below :
Spoil Him With Presents
When youre in love, you lose track of time lots of hours are spent thinking about what to buy your partner and the romantic ways you can give them their present. Giving them a gift without expecting anything in return is proof to my partner that I have thought about them, and that I simply just want to make them happy. I dont need to go overboard, nor do I need to wait for a particular moment to convey my love to them. Although, I did have to proactively do some spy work in order to find out what my partner is interested in, enough to get to know them a bit better, enough to show them that I care about what they like and dislike
Experts opinion we are more sensitive to certain acts than othersAlthough we can all appreciate these 5 languages of love, a hierarchy operates inside us. Some people prefer to spend time alone together as a couple in order to feel loved, whilst for others, meaningful conversations and comments and more important. That explains why its useful to know your partners expectations in order to avoid arguments and misunderstandings.This will also prevent you from falling into the classic trap of giving someone else what you would in fact like to receive.To avoid wasting time and energy, believing you can change your other half when you are quite simply missing the point, its time you calmly broached the subject.Good luck with these languages of love! |
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What Are Words Of Affirmation
When it comes to Gary Chapman’s five love languages, words of affirmation is the most common love language, edging out quality time and acts of service. It also is the only love language that revolves around verbal expression.
Words of affirmation are words that communicate your love, appreciation, and respect for another person. They’re positive words and phrases used to uplift someone. What’s more, these compliments and words of encouragement don’t have to be said directly to the person. A simple hand-written note is appreciated just as much as a personal phone call.
People who give and receive love through words of affirmation tend to be the people who notice and care about the details of other people’s lives. For instance, they may be the first to notice their partner’s new haircut. They also remember to ask the neighbor how their sick dog is doing. They may even remember to ask the cashier at the local supermarket if they are feeling any better.
Those whose primary love language is words of affirmation are often sensitive and aware of their surroundings. They are the encouragers who know just what to say to make others feel better. And, they are hoping you can do the same for them.
They Don’t Fix Other Relationship Problems
The five love languages won’t fix all of your relationship issues they are simply one tool of many you can use to improve communication with your partner.
Research shows that couples who use each other’s love languages feel the happiest within their relationships when they also use self-regulation tools to handle their own emotions. While the love languages were a tool, the couples’ accountability for their emotions and behavioral changes contributed the most to their overall happiness.
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How To Identify Your Love Language
In a relationship, do you feel more loved when your partner:
- Tells you, I love you, or praises something you did?
- Surprises you with a meaningful gift?
- Plans a trip for just the two of you?
- Runs the errands or does the laundry?
- Holds your hand while youre walking?
Answering these questions could give you a hint as to what your love language might be. You could also try to recall the sorts of things you ask for in a relationship or consider how you express love to your partner. Chapman also offers an online 30-question quiz to help you determine your dominant love language.
Your partners love language might not be the same as yours. When couples have different primary love languages, there are bound to be misunderstandings. However, if your partner learns to speak your love language , they will likely feel loved, appreciated, and, ultimately, happier in the relationship.
In 1992, author Gary Chapman revolutionized the way many people view love with his bestselling book, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. In the book, Chapman shares five primary ways romantic partners give and receive love, adding that we all speak certain languages better than others in our romantic lives.
You may know or suspect that one of your partners strongest love languages is the act of giving and receiving gifts. Or perhaps gifts are your love language and youre looking for a better way to communicate your needs.
The 5 Love Languages Marriage Conference

Whether youve been married six months or sixty years, every marriage can use a boost. In this popular one-day conference led by Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages®, you and your spouse will focus on the basics of every marriage. With wisdom and a healthy dose of humor, Dr. Chapman gives valuable tips on breaking unhealthy patterns and choosing to develop a more intimate, happy marriage.
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Its Never Too Late To Start Loving Better
Dating, married, single, or simply looking for better ways to connect with others? Theres a book for you!
They love each other, right? Then why do they always feel like they’re not on the same page?
The most common issue in any relationship is the communication barrier. Everyone experiences love differently, and it’s easy to miss the mark when it comes to showing that you care.
In his early years as a marriage counselor, Dr. Gary Chapman noticed that over and over, couples voiced similar complaints regarding their marriage.
One spouse would say something like, “I feel like he doesn’t love me.”
And the other would protest, “I don’t know what else to do. I’m doing everything I should be doing.”
Recognizing this pattern and remembering the rocky start in his own marriage, Dr. Chapman pored three years of session notes.
He asked himself, “When someone’s saying, ‘I feel like my spouse doesn’t love me,’ what did they want?”
Surprisingly, their answers fell into five different categories, revealing a unique approach for how to effectively love another person.
The premise is simple: Different people, with different personalities, give and receive love in different ways. Dr. Chapman called these ways of expressing and receiving love “The 5 Love Languages®.” He even wrote a best-selling book about it.
This revolutionary concept has improved millions of relationships across the globe.
What Are The Five Love Languages
Chapmans book The 5 Love Languages was first published in 1992. Before writing the book, Chapman began to notice patterns in couples he was counseling. He realized that the couples were misunderstanding each others needs.
That led him to come up with five love languages, or ways that people in relationships express love. They are:
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How Love Languages Benefit Relationships
We all express and receive love differently. Learning and understanding those differences can have a meaningful impact on your relationship. According to Chapman, this is one of the simplest ways to improve your relationships. Here are some other ways learning your respective love languages could be beneficial.
Steal Some Special Moments
Its all very well sharing the same house or apartment, but what really matters is the time spent together, just the two of you . Whats important is the absence of external problems. So, I leave my worries on the doorstep, I turn off my smartphone and I dedicate time to the person I love. I create time in my timetable so that I can give my partner my full attention. No need to complicate things and go to a restaurant , the simple act of hugging them, speaking to them about things, listening to them, going for a walk together, is enough to show them how important they are to you.
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When It Comes To Love We All Speak Different Languages
Keeping love alive is a serious business. When its in jeopardy, we go to therapy, couples counseling, or maybe even turn to the internet for advice on, how to rekindle the spark. The problem is that its difficult to resolve issues when partners dont understand each other. So Chapman suggests going back to the basics. This approach means looking at language, which forms the basis of connection.
We all grow up speaking a primary language. Later on in life, we may learn a new language, which can take an enormous effort. However, as with all things, practice makes perfect, and the more you speak a particular language, the easier it becomes.
The difficulty arises when we speak a specific language and encounter someone who speaks another. Communication will be limited, so to understand each other, we may try to point, grunt, draw, or even act out our ideas. So, communication can occur, but itll likely appear awkward and unnatural. Ultimately, for effective communication, we need to learn each others language.
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