​3 Ways to Speak My Love Language: Words of Affirmation

The Encompass Outreach Group is starting a blog series on the 5 Love Languages!  Over the next few weeks we will be focusing on different love languages, the impact they have on our lives, and how we can fill others' "love tanks!"

By Tessa Stump

My love language is Words of Affirmation.  I need to hear that I am loved, doing a good job, and wanted.  I have learned to recognize that people love me in lots of different ways.  But I have to say, there is something special about someone speaking my language! 

If you know someone who’s love language is Words of Affirmation, I hope one of these 3 ways will inspire you to speak their language!

At Home

• My husband is almost always home before I am “off work.”  Because I work from home, he stays in the main living area and leaves me alone until 5, when I am officially done and can emerge from the office.  When I walk into our living space he yells, “It’s *insert embarrassing pet name*!!  Hey, she’s here!! There she iiiis!  Miss Americaaa!”  This all seems silly, but it’s so uplifting for me to hear someone affirm (even humorously) my presence in a room.         

With Family

• In general, I am not sentimental about items.  I do not keep boxes of cards, school programs, concert tickets, etc.  However, I do have about 5 cards that are special to me.  One of these cards is from my parents on my birthday.  The reason it is special to me as an adult is because of the note; “We are proud of you!”   Now, I may know implicitly that my parents are proud of me, but there is something special to my heart about having it explicitly stated in that note.      

At Work

• I have a small pouch-folder of sorts that I keep in a filing cabinet.  This folder houses some printed emails, notes, and few thank you cards from past clients.  I tell myself that I keep these in case I need positive “reviews” to reference.  But if I am honest, they just make me feel good! 

 
According to Dr. Gary Chapman every person has a "love tank" that is filled up when others "speak their love language".  Encompass Connection Center offers a free survey to help couples determine their love languages.  What are yours? 

5 Love Languages Survey

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