Though you might think you have your relationship all figured out, it's definitely possible that your partner might love you more than you think they do. If you think that there's something off in your relationship or you think that they don't love you as much as you love them, for instance, it might be because of misinterpretations and miscommunication.
If you feel like the two of you aren't connecting in the same way or you can't put your finger on what's going on, here's what you might need to know.
1. They love you in the way that they receive love, but not the way that you do.
Dr. Gary Chapman, PhD, developed the idea that there are five love languages. Essentially, each person "speaks" one of these love languages and one of the keys to a good and successful relationship is deciphering your partner's love language. If you don't speak the same love language, you could have some problems with communication.
Tara Vossenkemper, MA, LPC, ACS, the founder, clinical director, and therapist at The Counseling Hub, told INSIDER that you might not realize that your partner loves you as much as they do because they're showing you love in the way that they receive, not in the way that you do.
"So if I am a person who, I give love by doing things for somebody else, but my partner receives love through, maybe, compliments or little notes here and there or pretty much nice, kind words, then he or she will never really receive love in the way I'm giving it," Vossenkemper explained. Asking yourself what your partner asks for (like hugs) can help you determine how they receive love. Then, reflecting on if that's what they're often doing for you can help you sort out if that's what going on or not.
2. They make you a priority.
If your partner generally makes you and your relationship a priority, that's another good sign that they might love you more than you think.
Tracy K. Ross, LCSW, a couples therapist, told INSIDER that whether they make you a priority in big ways or just in small, subtle ways, it lets you know that they value your connection.
3. You're the first person they turn to.
It's nice to be the person that someone turns to to lift them up when they're down or celebrate their successes. If you're that person for your partner, that's a good sign that they might love you more than you think, Ross said.
"These are examples of being held in mind, being 'turned towards' not 'away' from, they are signs of appreciation and wanting to be near you but not in an insecure wanting to possess you sort of way; they are signs they delight in who you are not what they think you should be; they are not signs of 'I'd love you more if…;' they don't point to conditional love; they are signs that they want to be connected to you, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually," she added.
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