How to Fulfill Your Love Language Needs Without a Partner
Find satisfaction through family and friends, but don't forget to give back in equal measure.
Written by Candice Neo
By now, most people are familiar with the five love languages coined by Gary Chapman, which he posits are the five ways in which most people give and receive love:
Words of affirmation
Receiving gifts
Acts of service
Quality time
Physical touch
For couples, learning how to show and express love, using each other's love language is often an important aspect of communication.
"Having one's love languages fulfilled is a gift," said Paul Hokemeyer, Ph.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of "Fragile Power." "Human beings are hardwired to exist in relationships that fill us up, that makes us feel whole and give meaning and depth to our lives."
He added that "by actively seeking to find your love language and the love languages of the people you love, then working even harder to relate through those love languages, you will add enormous value to your life and the lives of those you love."
But what if you don't have a partner? Can you still get these needs satisfied from your family and friends?
The experts we spoke to agree this is possible and explained that getting your loved ones to understand your love language is similar to how you would express these needs to your romantic partner.
Here's how you can actively take steps to fulfill your love language needs from your loved one.