Love is accepting someone wholly and unconditionally. There are no ultimatums with love. You accept your partner no matter what flaws or imperfections they may have. I found an easy way to do this is to think of your own imperfections that they have to live with. It gets better when you realize that your partner also has to love you unconditionally and that you have flaws that they live with too.

We live in a world where being selfish is the norm. The media places things in your face saying, you deserve having it. If you really want to show real love to your partner you need to put this selfishness to one side. This is the time that you put your needs and happiness to one side and serve your partner. They need your help and support, especially in difficult times.

Love is showing understanding and empathizing with the other person. Sit there and be. Share their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Do all of this without judgment or offering advice. Sometimes the best thing to say is to say nothing and just be.

Be committed to each other. Love never gives up. When you know that your partner is committed to you it is easy to be yourself. There is little fear of judgment and therefore showing love in your unique way is possible. Commitment is being dedicated to sustaining your relationship in both good and bad times. There are times when life will not go quite as you planned. This is the time that you have to work all the harder to be a team.

Last year my husband lost his work, and we were barely dealing with the financial stress. It would have been very easy for us to turn against each other. Rather, we stood by each other and supported one another. We made it through and our relationship is stronger for it.

I am of the meaning that respect is earned and that if you respect me I will gladly reciprocate. That is why mutual respect is so important. You value each other’s opinions. What your partner has to say is important to them and thus, it should be respected by you. You do not have to adopt the same view, but let their opinion live.

Respect each other’s boundaries. You might be married but that doesn’t give you the right to overstep your partner's boundaries. They are there for it to make them feel safe and respected. Breaking this will break the trust that you had.

Furthermore, respecting your partner is allowing their individuality to live. Don’t clone yourself by trying to change them to be more like you.

One of the biggest blessings is knowing that there are people out there that you can count on in good and bad times. Usually, people stick around when things are easy and disappear in hard times. Those that stay around are usually those that love you. You know how much you appreciate it when others do it for you, so why not show love by offering support and encouragement? Comfort your partner when they need it and by doing this you illustrate love and support, strengthening your relationship.

True love encourages personal growth. When you see that there is more potential in your partner than they are currently living out encourage them to grow. Not because you want to change them but because you want them to live out their full potential.

When you grow in one area of your life it overflows into every other area. When you grow as an individual your relationship will also benefit from it. Foster having goals and aspirations that you work towards. These can be goals as an individual and as a couple.

Love has a deep emotional and spiritual connection between couples. This connection has to be fostered to keep the bond strong. There are a few things that you can do to create this connection. Prioritizing intimacy is one of the greatest connection builders. Emotional intimacy, where you spend quality time together, and physical intimacy. In my marriage, if there are long periods that my husband and I don’t get together tension builds. It is having a closeness with the other person that sustains the connection. This is why long-distance relationships take so much work, the connection is difficult to foster when you don’t have that closeness.

Unforgiveness is like a cancer that eats away at your relationship. Studies have found that there is a direct correlation between mental health and physical health and unforgiveness and cancer is linked.

Forgive each other for the mistakes and shortcomings that there are. We are all human and aren’t perfect. Forgiveness helps in resolving conflict situations. Handle conflicts with compassion and understanding, this shows that you care.

When you sacrifice your happiness and desires for the sake of your partner you show them just how much you love them. It is one thing to give love when it costs you nothing, but as soon as you have to give something up that is when true love is exposed.

Having the freedom to be yourself with your partner is a sign that you feel loved enough to do so. You can be honest with your partner about your feelings. Both of you can be yourselves without fear of judgment.

If, similar to me, you are a people pleaser it can be hard to let go of the mask and be yourself. Being able to do with the person you love is liberating. Suppressing one's true self is no way to live.

Love can enrich your life. It brings fulfillment, belonging, and enrichment to both partners. I do not want you to live a miserable life. Live a life where love is present. It is not going to always be easy, and it is going to take work. The benefits of love outweigh the sacrifices that you are going to have to make.