“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

Anyone who’s been in love can relate to that flicker (or tidal wave) of panic at the idea of being the first one in the relationship to say it. You know, those three powerful words. You’ve heard them said out loud so many times that they almost lose their meaning. So why are they abruptly terrifying when you try to make your own mouth utter them to a special someone for the first time?

Loving is the most vulnerable thing we do. For something that happens to everyone, it’s surprisingly unique to each person experiencing it. You feel like you’re charting undiscovered territory as you navigate falling in love. Once you feel it, you get the urge to scream it from the rooftops. At the same time, if you haven’t said it to your person yet, even whispering the words seems a task far too daunting for a mere mortal.

To summon the courage to admit your feelings, observe your partner. There are tangible signs that a man is in love if you look for them.

These Are the Biggest Signs Your Partner is in Love With You: 

1. He trusts you.

Trust is one of the most fragile aspects of a relationship. It’s also one of the most important. When you intimately share your life with someone, you are putting a huge amount of faith in them. Many people have had a sour experience with a friend or ex who betrayed their trust, which makes it even harder to expose your inner life to someone again.

Despite these risks, if your partner trusts you, then you have something truly special. Having that level of confidence in someone is a beautiful thing. It’s a bond that should be protected. You don’t take the chance of putting yourself out there with someone you’re only sort of into. A man who has opened up to you in an unguarded way is a man with strong feelings for you.

2. He loves being with you.

Time is a finite resource, so the way a person chooses to spend it is a window into the soul. A man will prioritize what is important to him, just like you do. You don’t want to waste much time on people or activities that don’t feed your soul. Finding yourself dragging your feet or procrastinating before doing something is a surefire indicator that you have something more interesting on your mind.

Do you feel like you’re the one who always initiates spending time together, or does he take the lead? Does he quickly agree to meet up when you ask? Pay attention to this kind of thing. If the guy you’re into finds any and every excuse to be around you, it’s safe to say he’s happily hooked.

3. He makes big decisions with you.

At the beginning of a relationship, it can be tricky to figure out exactly at what point you should be including your partner in the big decisions of your life. There are some more low-key choices that can be broached to test the waters, such as asking about attending a wedding three months into the future. This shows a keen inclination to remain together.

For the heavier decisions, if he stops to include you in the calculations, appreciate that you are a significant part of his life. It’s a humbling and sensitive move to ask for your opinion. Not only does this demonstrate his respect for your thoughts, it also indicates that he feels safe suggesting you will remain a serious presence in his life indefinitely.

4. He shows loving actions.

Everybody has different “love languages” – the ways they enjoy expressing and receiving love. It’s quite common for men to prefer showing love through actions instead of words. This doesn’t just mean s-ex.

Being generally affectionate is a sweet way to check in and stay connected throughout hectic daily life. Holding hands while walking down the street, kissing you as soon as he walks through the door, or simply cuddling on the couch are all examples of this. He may also show loving actions by doing things to help you around the house, by surprising you with little gifts, or by expressing his love and appreciation verbally.

People quote that “actions mean more than words” all the time for a reason. In the context of a relationship, these actions don’t always have to be about sweeping gestures, it’s the small loving gestures done over time that have a much bigger impact and really show how he feels.

5. He has your back.

Loyalty is a precious commodity. There’s no better feeling than knowing you and your partner have a mutual, reciprocative devotion in that way. Knowing that no matter how tough your day is, you always have someone to talk to about it can make all the difference.

You want to be able to talk about what’s going on in your life with someone who is on your side. This is particularly true when you’re struggling in a disagreement with a co-worker, friend, or family member.

This doesn’t mean he’ll always agree with you, but no matter what he’ll be there. Whether you need encouragement, advice, or just a shoulder to lean on – having that steadfast partner with you is invaluable.

6. He genuinely cares about your life.

Have you ever had the sensation that the person listening to you speak is just waiting for you to finish so they can talk? Good listeners are hard to come by. Even your best friend can be guilty of being more distracted by his or her cell phone than interested in your story about what happened at work that day. There’s also the transparent and slightly maddening “mmhmm” or forced chuckle at appropriately timed intervals.

Due to society’s often short attention span, it’s refreshing when someone readily offers you undivided attention. It’s even sweeter when that attention is given by someone who truly knows and cares about you.

Don’t take for granted a man who looks you in the eye when you speak to him, truly engaged with what you’re saying. It’s very special to have someone in your life who is riveted by any knowledge about you and your life. Without a doubt, this should be taken as a sign that you are remarkably important to him.

7. He respects you.

Women, especially young women, are often told that men will respect them if they command that respect. Sometimes they’re even told that they will be respected if they carry themselves a certain, appropriate way. While it’s true that certain guys will only respect you as much as you demand, a good one won’t need any guidance to do so.

Respect encompasses everything from your boundaries to the principles by which you live your life. This includes the basic courtesy of never pushing you in an area you find uncomfortable. It also includes recognizing and validating your beliefs. For example, if you’re a vegetarian and your guy uses every meal as an opportunity to belittle your dietary choices, you’ll probably be happier with someone else.

However, if you are with a guy who celebrates and cherishes your differences because they make you who you are – treasure that! It signifies a relationship with great maturity and consideration.

8. He brings out your best.

Sometimes it’s hard to quantify how someone makes you feel about yourself. What isn’t uncertain is the way you feel after spending time with a person. Some people zap you of energy and make you feel vaguely inadequate. Others fill you up with ambition and happiness, sometimes in an inconceivable but still very real way.

Aim to be with a man who makes you want to be a better version of yourself, despite the fact that he tells you that you are 100% perfect the way you are. What you see as flaws or insecurities, he’ll see as the desirable quirks that make you the person he loves being around.

We walk around in our own bubbles all day, making it tough to see ourselves objectively. If you’ve found someone who actually sees you and who makes you feel admired, know that you’re in a truly loving relationship.

9. He prioritizes you.

Everybody has at least one or two fair-weather friends or acquaintances in their life. You know, those people who will probably have an excuse lined up if you ask for a ride to the airport. What you don’t want is for your partner in life to err on the side of undependable.

Naturally, you want someone you can rely on. Preferably someone who swiftly offers help instead of making it feel like an unpleasant obligation. Also, sometimes people can be extremely considerate in the first couple weeks of a relationship, but slowly back off as time goes on. Make sure the haze of eager first impressions doesn’t paint the wrong picture of a person in your mind.

If you’re with a guy who consistently shows up to support you with a smile on his face, let that put a big one on yours as well.

10. He stares at you a lot.

“When a woman is talking to you, listen to what she says with her eyes.” – Victor Hugo

The above quote most certainly applies to both genders. How often a man looks at you, and more specifically – how he looks at you, mean a great deal. People can’t help looking at the things they love, the people they admire.

In the early stages of a flirtation, catching a guy staring at you can give you a rush of satisfaction and pleasure. As the relationship progresses, a man unabashedly looking at you is downright euphoric.

You know the difference between a glance and a marvel. When someone knows you inside out and still can’t get enough of looking at you, that’s something to hold close.

11. He wants to make it work no matter what.

Before you establish a secure relationship, any and every fight can be a real cause for alarm. Until you build a solid way to communicate with each other when you disagree, you have no idea how the other person is going to respond. When a relationship is still somewhat new, you have to wonder if he’s going to consider it worthwhile to power through a fight and get to the other side.

You want to be with someone who desires a peaceful outcome, even when exchanges grow heated. You need an honest partner who debates in order to get to a better place with you, not someone who fights for the sake of hurting you.

If your guy seems determined to resolve arguments and make things work, this indicates absolute investment on his part. No man wants to waste his energy bickering with a woman he can’t see a future with.