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Verbal Encouragement
Words that build up, affirm, and express love
People who value verbal encouragement feel most loved when their partner expresses appreciation, affection, and support through words. This could be spoken, written, or texted. What matters is that the sentiment is genuine and specific.
Signs This Is Your Style
- 1You light up when your partner compliments you or says something kind
- 2A heartfelt note or text can completely turn your day around
- 3Harsh words or criticism cut deeper for you than for most people
- 4You remember specific encouraging things people have said to you
- 5You often tell your partner how much they mean to you
What It Looks Like in Practice
- "I'm really proud of how you handled that situation."
- "You look amazing today."
- Leaving a sticky note on the mirror with an encouraging message
- Sending a text during the day just to say you're thinking of them
- Publicly acknowledging your partner's strengths or achievements
Tips for Your Partner
- Be specific rather than generic. "I love how patient you were with the kids tonight" lands harder than "you're great."
- Write it down. A letter, card, or even a text thread of kind words becomes something they can revisit.
- Don't just compliment appearance. Affirm their character, effort, and decisions.
- If this isn't natural for you, set a daily reminder to share one genuine encouragement.
- Listen for what they're insecure about, and proactively affirm them in those areas.