You should know someone well before you declare your love. If you have been together for at least 3 months and had a couple of arguments, you will have a much better understating of who your man is. If you have only been dating for a few weeks and everything seems perfect, you may be infatuated and not truly in love. It is better to keep your feelings to yourself until you are sure that you really do love him. Telling him that you love him too early in the relationship can really freak him out if he does not feel the same way.

Does he make you a priority? Does he mention you when he talks about his future plans and goals? Have you met the people (e. g. family, friends, coworkers) that are important in his life? If his actions say that he cares about you, he may not be scared by your strong feelings for him. Does he speak in terms of “we” instead of “I”? Does he consistently try to take care of you and keep a smile on your face? Is he affectionate? Does he want to hug, kiss, and hold hands? If he acts like he loves you, he probably will not be scared by you expressing your feelings. If his actions do not say that he may be in love with you, you should probably hold off on telling him.

The best reason to say “I love you” is that you simply cannot keep it to yourself any longer, and you want him to know how you feel. Saying “I love you” can change your relationship. Be sure that you are ready for this.

If he does not feel the same way, you may feel rejected or uncertain about your relationship. If you feel that you would be crushed that he does not love you as well, you may want to hold off on telling him.

Avoid professing your love after a physically or psychologically charged situation (like before or after being intimate) because he may say that he loves you too due to an adrenaline rush or from being in an emotional environment. [8] X Research source Also avoid telling him if either one of you are intoxicated or sleepy. He may or may not remember what you said. If you discuss future plans for your relationship or how you currently feel, this is the ideal time to tell him that you love him.

You can choose the ideal situation when you tell him, but try not to think about it too much. If the two of you are alone and having a good time, let him know. Listen to your gut when deciding to say “I love you. " [10] X Research source Avoid saying, “You are the love of my life. " It causes a comparison between you and his past relationships. He may love you, but may not consider you the love if his life at this point. You may be less likely to get the response you desire if you say that phrase. [11] X Research source

You may say, “I love you. I understand if you’re not ready to say it or you’re feelings aren’t in the same place as mine. I just wanted you to know how I feel. " Remember that love happens at different speeds for people. Even if he does not say it back to you, it does not mean that he does not want to be with you. [12] X Research source Being patient with him is the best way to allow his love to grow if it is not already there yet. If your partner does not say “I love you, too,” you can use this as an opportunity to ask him where he sees the relationship going.

There is no right or wrong way to tell him that you love him. You are less likely to scare him if you use a method that he is receptive to.

A card is really helpful if you do not know what to say. You can even choose a more humorous card to keep it light and still get your point across. You could also find a poem or song that says what you would like to say and rewrite it in your handwriting.

If you go this route, practice saying “I love you” out loud and in front of a mirror. You could also make a video that tells him how you feel. You can make sure that you tell him everything that you want to say without getting too nervous. If you mess up, you can always make another video.

Do something nice like cook him is favorite meal or surprise him with tickets to a movie that he wanted to see. Be present during good and bad times. While it’s easy to be supportive during happy times, you can really show your love when he’s down in the dumps. Whether he’s had a bad day at work or is dealing with a family health crisis, be his rock and show him you are on his side 24/7. Support his passions and dreams. From going for a master’s degree to his love of mountain climbing, be his cheerleader. Research his hobbies or goals and bring additional insight to the table.