There is hardly anyone who would be able to give a straightforward definition of the concept of love. The view of what love is and how it works may differ substantially from person to person, as it relies upon cultural as well as family background, personal experience, and other factors. Nevertheless, it is possible to identify which of the so-called love languages is predominant in a particular person. Being aware of the love language an individual uses is helpful in adjusting the style of communication, hence establishing a better relationship.
I personally both interpret and communicate love through physical touch; thus, holding hands is an outstandingly intimate gesture for me. Also, I find it insufficient to communicate remotely and need the regular presence of my partner to feel satisfied. This is presumably a manifestation of my belonging need, which means connectedness to a long-lasting and significant relationship (Wood, 2020). With a person of the same type, I will not need to change anything, as we both will apparently realize the importance of touching each other.
Another language of love is acts of service, which means revealing the beloved from responsibility, put simply, doing something for them. In case I choose to date an individual willing that, I will need to overcome my laziness since they would doubtlessly regard it as indifference. I believe such an attitude to rooting in safety needs, which is actually one of the main reasons why people build personal relationships (Wood, 2020). Notably, people in whom acts of service dominate find it critical to feeling that they can rely upon their partners completely to be supported and protected.
In a considerable amount of people, the prevalent love language is so-called quality time. In other words, it is essential for them to receive undivided attention from their partners, which can also be referred to as mindfulness (Wood, 2020). This concept involves careful listening, punctuality, and similar ways to show a person how important they are. For me, a relationship with an individual of such a kind would require improving my concentration, as I currently get distracted on the regular.
All of the above exemplify non-verbal signals of love people can send to their beloved. Meanwhile, verbal communication, which by means of words, is another love language referred to as words of affirmation; for instance, audial people focus on what they hear before anything else (Wood, 2020). This could hardly make problems for me since I actually fancy saying compliments to my nearest and telling them about their uniqueness.
Finally, to a certain share of people, receiving gifts is the most eloquent love language. It is worth noting that what actually matters is the effort behind the present, not the latter itself. Although I am rather experienced in gifting, I will have to consider cultural diversity in a relationship with a person who speaks this language (Wood, 2020). Simply put, the same tokens may have different meanings in other cultures, which may lead to misunderstandings.
In conclusion, people can communicate love in several ways that are also known as love languages. To be able to build a positive and lasting relationship with an individual whose dominant love language is distinct from mine, I will have to adjust my style of social interaction. Thus, there may be a need for developing new skills like mindful listening as well as minimizing my weaknesses, in particular, laziness.
Reference
Wood, J.T. (2020). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters (9th Ed.). Cengage Learning, Inc.