Gaining Courage
Build your romantic relationship. Spending time together allows you both to get to know each other on a deeper level. Eliminate distractions including cell phones, unwanted visitors, or blaring music whenever you can. Getting to know her and spending time together are essential to building a romantic relationship. You won’t know what activities you enjoy together unless you communicate. Choose activities that you can both do together like studying, hiking, or grabbing a bite to eat. Make sure you make it clear that you enjoy your time with her and appreciate how much you both are getting to know one another.
Don’t allow fear to paralyze you. If you fear rejection, putting your emotions out in the open can be terrifying; however, you should also realize that regret can be just as powerful. Realize that putting yourself out there and knowing the truth is the only way to overcome both the fear of rejection and regret. It is a relief just to get this off your chest.
Be honest about your feelings. Do you actually love her or is this lust or infatuation? Could you stand losing her friendship? Do not be friends with her in hopes that you can change her mind about you. This is unfair to her as friendships should be based on trust and respect. If you truly love her, you will be a good friend first and foremost. Analyzing your own feelings can be difficult but there are a few scientifically proven signals that may indicate whether you’re in love. Do you exhibit any of these feelings? If you believe that she is unique, it may be because your brain has elevated levels of focus and attention. If you think that she is perfect and only focus on her positive qualities, it may be because your memory has increased to accommodate your new feelings of love. If you feel like you’re a wreck over your new love, it is because research has shown that being in love involves similar brain activity to being addicted with similar mood swings. Going through adversity can also make you fall in love because your brain produces more dopamine, a chemical responsible for reward and pleasure. If you feel you are obsessing over her it may be because your brain has decreased the levels of central serotonin, which is associated with obsessive behavior. People in love have also shown signs of emotional dependency in which they want to be together all the time and hope to stay together forever. When you’re in love you may feel like you’ll do anything for her because you have a greater sense of empathy for the woman you love. Studies have shown that being in love is about an emotional union, not about sex. Studies have also shown that people in love feel that their love is uncontrollable.
Don’t try to read her mind. Be direct when expressing yourself. Don’t assume that you know how she is feeling. Always respectfully ask and thank her for opening up to you. Being open is essential in expressing your love for one another.
Stay positive. Love is a very strong emotion and is usually developed over time. Take a look at how your relationship with her has developed over time and focus on all the positive emotions you have shared together. If you feel that your love for her has developed rather quickly, stay positive that there is no better time to reveal your feelings. You can always find a reason not to do something so be bold and follow your heart.
Expressing Your Love
Choose the right time and place. Don’t be distracted by outside factors. Approach her when you are going to be able to talk to her in relative privacy and when neither of you will feel rushed. Look for a quiet place or ask to schedule a meeting to ensure that both of you are mentally and emotionally present. Expressing your love should be a joyous occasion so make sure you’ve created a situation where she is able to fully process her thoughts and emotions. You don’t want to tell her you love her when you are being distracted by friends or she has to work overtime to meet the deadline of an important client.
Be aware of your body language and how you carry yourself around her. Chat with her whenever you have the opportunity and initiate with a smile. Focus on your posture and maintain eye contact. Be friendly and joke when you can, but don't be rude. Don't overwhelm her, as a smile and a wave can go along way. Engage her in a conversation by starting with a simple "How's are you?" You will come off as creepy or awkward if you stand at her location without saying anything. If you can't think of something to say because you're nervous, just say hello and keep walking or talk to someone else.
Find out more about her and her friends. Her friends are her support system and will protect her so leave a good impression and take a genuine interest in who they are. Endearing yourself to her friends will let them and her know that you are fully invested in her wellbeing.
Understand that men are more likely to say “I love you” first. Studies have shown that men are prone to saying “I love you” first because they do not want to lose a relationship whereas women want to ensure that the relationship is worth their investment so they are inclined to wait. So before you say “I love you”, prove that you are worth it and leave no doubt in her mind why she loves you back.
Let your actions speak louder than your words. There are many resources that give examples of romantic gestures, however, love is a personal thing. Only you know how to express your love and what will make her happy. Whether it’s buying her flowers after she’s had a long day, singing her favorite song to surprise her, or just holding hands everyday as you walk her home from school, showing her that you love her isn’t just a one time gesture but rather a state of mind that informs all that you do.
Communicate respectfully and openly. The best way tell her you love her is to be direct. There is no sense in trying to manipulate her or trying to wait her out. Give her time to process her thoughts and emotions. She may say that she wants to just stay friends so be prepared to examine your own emotions and what role she will play in your life moving forward.
Be aware that the word love can carry different emotional context for different people. Some people may have a very difficult time hearing or using that word. However you articulate your emotions, be sure that she completely understands your intentions. For example, if you know she gets awkward and skittish whenever you watch the end of romantic comedies whenever the characters finally say “I love you”, do not make the same gesture. Instead, sincerely, but casually, let her know how much you care about her and that you want to take a step forward in your relationship.
Prepare for any obstacles. Religion, cultural differences, or strict family members can all be involved in how she responds to you. Remember to always be respectful of who she is because, if you truly love her, you will get to know these things about her and how you can possibly work through any obstacle. If she is tentative but still says yes, address it and abide by the rules she has set in order to ease her mind. If she asked you to get to know her parents first because of her cultural customs, then take it as an honour and follow her lead. If she does not want to get physical in the relationship then don’t pressure her.
Moving Forward
Maintain your composure. Whether she says she loves you or rejects you, express yourself tactfully, especially if you’re in public. Don't be a jerk and try to lash out if your feelings hurt.
Respect her reaction. If she doesn't love you back, remember that she is still the same person who you have created a deep bond with so continue to respect her. You cannot force someone to like or love you. Don’t become unresponsive or stonewall her. Women are sensitive to interpersonal cues so blank expressions or being stonewalled can escalate an already negative situation.
Celebrate your maturity and fortitude. If you have gotten to know one another and developed a strong relationship based on respect and open communication, chances are that she will express the same feelings of love. Take pride in being able to put your emotions out into the open and celebrate with her. Even if the love she shares stops at friendship, revel in your personal growth. Share your experience with others and know that you are not alone. Use your friends, family, and other parts of your support system to deal with rejection.
Continue to build your relationship. If you really love someone, you will respect them, care for them, and be there for the good and the bad. Love can be a roller coaster but the scariest part is taking the first plunge and telling her that you love her. Get closure. If she doesn’t have the same feelings for you, do not keep persisting. Learn to accept that it wasn’t meant to be and keep optimistic that there is something meant for you just around the corner. This may be difficult but take as much time as you need. That’s why there are so many sad love songs and movies that can help cheer you up.
Know when to walk away from a friendship. There is no sense in trying to manipulate her or trying to wait her out. If you tell her you love her and says she doesn’t feel the same but wants to stay friends, respectfully decline. Your emotions may be too raw after you have been rejected to maintain a friendship. A friendship is based on mutual support and respect. Ask yourself if you can truly give that to her after you have clearly expressed that you see her as more than a friend. Can you still be friends with her if she is dating someone else?
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