Being affectionate is a praise-worthy virtue. When we show or express our affection in simple ways, we emit good energy and attract people to us, seeing that everyone wants to be loved. Our relationships improve, and we become better people.
In this article, we will show you 15 simple ways to show affection, to influence your relationships and friendships for the better.
1. Express Your Affection with Words
We are humans, and we can’t read minds. If you stood by a bus and stared at a person’s dress, no one would know what you really think of that dress until you say it to someone. It is in the same way that no one will know about your feelings and affection except you find a way to express them.
To express affection, you have got first to understand that affection is a good thing; being affectionate is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it is a sign of true strength. Now, learn to express your affection.
- Talk about it.
- Walk over to whoever you feel affectionate about and let them know that you feel that way about them.
- Tell them that you care about them and want the best for them.
- Say it with a bright smile on your face.
- Express it reassuringly
It works wonders.
Also, based on a study, engaging in affectionate behavior directly eases stress symptoms following exposure to an acute stressor.
In the study, a group that expressed their feelings of affection to their loved ones through writing a letter experienced accelerated cortisol recovery (help the body recover from stress).
2. Be Thoughtful
Being thoughtful is taking people’s feelings and needs into consideration; it is realizing that, like you, they are human too and face similar issues as you. One simple way to show affection is to be thoughtful.
Realize that we all make mistakes and show traits that many people find repulsive. Make room for people’s mistakes, and develop a habit of looking at their good sides rather than their not-so-bright sides.
Let your affection move you to consider them just human, with flaws, and let it teach you to embrace them no matter what happens. Look to see them comfortable, to see them happy and sane.
3. Give Them Gifts from Your Heart
Giving is one of the most effective ways of showing love and affection. When we give to people, we are showing them how much they matter to us. We are saying: “I thought about you, and it is why I have decided to give you this.”
Giving doesn’t have to be just big things. When learning how to give to people, you should know that even small things matter; they matter because the motive behind every gift is what matters the most.
According to research, exchanging gifts can be considered an example of commitment and reinforce our social relationships with others. Give what you can, no matter how small. But let it come from your heart, from a place of goodwill and not selfishness.
4. Be There (Supportive) For Them
One of the things we humans crave the most is human connection and support. We almost never want to face difficult situations alone, and so turn to our friends and family for support when these difficult times come.
Show affection by being that friend your friends turn to when they are in difficulty. Be present for them. Give them one of the greatest gifts of all—your time and affection. Give them your presence, offering them safety in the truth that, with you, they are never really alone.
5. Seek Opportunities to Recommend Them
Affectionate people do not only seek good for themselves. They show love and affection by seeking the good of other people. Have you ever seen an ant around a piece of cake, and minutes after, the place was swarming with hundreds of ants? Affection works the same way.
Show your supportive network of friends and family affection by seeking opportunities and recommending these opportunities to them. It shows that you think about them a lot and wants the best for them. It shows that you are an affectionate person.
6. Encourage Them
Encouraging people involves helping them see that they are strong and are able to achieve whatever they set their minds at achieving, no matter how things get.
A simple way to show affection is by encouraging the people you care about. You can do so in a number of ways. Tell them that you believe so much in them and realize that they are able to do whatever they set their minds to achieve.
Also, be a safe space around them, and do not say words that are capable of deterring them and their belief in themselves.
7. Be Considerate
I talked a little about this earlier when I mentioned something about being thoughtful. A simple way to show affection is to consider your friend’s feelings as important, no matter how little or insignificant they might sound.
Also, realize that they are human and are capable of making mistakes. Realize that their flaws don’t define them. Look on the positive side of their personality and not on the dark side.
Doing this is going to make them feel loved and appreciated while helping you be more loving and patient. You see, the thing about showing affection is that it doesn’t only help the person receiving the attention. It also helps you, too, the person showing love and affection.
8. Give Them Listening Ears
We all want to be listened to; because when someone listens to us, we feel like what we are saying is important. Like our thought processes are appreciated. Try out these simple ways of showing affection to people you care about:
- Listen to them.
- Just let them speak about anything they want to talk about.
- Do not frown nor make faces that suggest that you are worn out.
- Just radiate an aura that lets them say what they want to say, how they want to say it.
9. Express Appreciation
Our friends want to be appreciated. They want to know that their efforts, no matter how little, are appreciated. Show affection by appreciating your friends. Do not just wait until they have done something ‘big’ before you appreciate them.
Appreciate them about even small things. The small things matter a lot, too, you know? Appreciate them for being your friend. Say thank you for the amazing times you both spent together. Say thank you for the little gifts that you received or for just a Facebook post that made you smile.
Studies have proved that gratitude evokes beneficial effects and positive results in those who experience it. Greater life satisfaction, optimism, and low-stress levels result from showing appreciation to others.
10. Give Them a Friendly Smile
A smile is like a compliment. When a baby sees a familiar face, he smiles to say welcome. When a child receives a gift, even before saying thank you, he smiles.
Smile at your friends as a simple way to show them affection. Your smile means a number of things, which include:
- You are happy to see them: only people whose presence genuinely makes you happy will be able to pull a smile on your face.
- You think they are beautiful.
- Also, you want them to feel comfortable; your smile is an approval that they are very much welcome here, etc.
11. Give Them Hugs
“Give” means we consider hugs a gift of some sort. And it is true; hugs are gifts; sometimes, a whole lot of times, in fact, they are one of the best gifts we can give people we care about.
Hug your friends. Hug them for no reason at all, at any time an opportunity presents itself. Notice their joy? A hug. Notice their sadness? A warm hug. Greet them with a hug. All that body contact is able to deepen your bond and friendship.
12. Express Warm Sentiments (Through Visits, Phone calls, & messages)
Expressing warm emotions is a great way to show love and affection to your friends and loved ones. Miss them? Then, express this emotion by visiting them. I bet when they see you at their door, they are going to smile wide and feel loved.
Call them over the phone just to tell them that they crossed your mind. Send them postcards, etc. Though quite little and seemingly simple, these things go a long way when we do them out of goodwill, out of a desire to show affection.
13. View Them in a Positive Light
Your friends and loved ones should be a treasure to you. You should try as much as you can to view them in a positive light, not letting their flaws and mistakes get in the way of how you feel for them.
This isn’t to say that you should turn a blind eye to their mistakes and pretend that these mistakes are non-existent. No. In fact, pretending not to see a person’s mistakes can be the opposite of showing affection.
As a friend, you should talk about their mistakes sometimes, not judgmentally, seeking ways to help them overcome their flaws. Viewing them in a positive light means you do not focus on their flaws.
14. Rejoice at Their Achievements
Show love and affection by showing true happiness for your friend’s and loved ones’ successes. Your friend’s successes should not spark envy in you; rather, they should make you feel pretty good.
When your friend tells you about a recent success, be there to help them celebrate. Good friends do not only help a person in moments of sadness; they are also around in moments of happiness. Here are some simple ways to rejoice at their achievements.
- Buy your loved one a drink.
- Have a good time together.
- Rejoice in your friend’s achievements.
- Be their number one fan.
- Congratulate them.
- Take them to a surprise outing
15. Remember the Little Things
Show your loved ones affection by letting them see that you have been attentive to them all along. Remember the little thing:
- Important moments of their life.
- The anniversary of your friendship.
- Remember something about someone who means a lot to them.
Remind them about that one time you both went out and something weird that happened. Talking about memories is a great way to stir and express feelings of affection.
Also, go through pictures of memorable moments and talk about them. This is a simple yet effective way to show love and affection to your friends and family.
Photo by Igor Érico on Unsplash
