3 Things People Do When They’re Deeply in Love (Without Even Realizing It)

Love can feel complicated…

But occasionally, it’s really quite simple.

You don’t necessarily have to have grand gestures or over-the-top confessions to be sure if someone is entirely in love with you.

Actually, psychology teaches us that it is often the small, persistent behaviors that reveal the extent of someone’s feelings. As Dr. John Gottman, a renowned relationship psychologist, once stated:

“Successful long-term relationships are created through small words, small gestures, and small acts.”

So, how do you know whether your partner is deeply in love with you?
Let’s dissect three strong, real-life indications.

1. They Put Your Happiness Above Their Own

When someone loves you deeply, your joy becomes their joy.

It doesn’t imply that they give themselves up totally — that’s not healthy. But you’ll see they make little choices for you: picking a place to eat you adore, leaving you the last piece of pizza, or getting up and sitting up late with you when you’ve had a terrible day.

A friend once said to me, “I knew he loved me when he spent three hours watching a Bollywood film — with subtitles — because it was my favorite.”

That is the magic of love: it flexes comfort zones.
Psychologists refer to this as compassionate love — when your partner enjoys taking care of you, without resentment.

The takeaway: If you notice them light up when you smile, that is a good indication of genuine love.

2. They Can’t Stop Including You in Their Future

True love is not only about the present; it’s about incorporating someone into your future.

When someone is head over heels in love with you, you’ll catch them saying these small things like:

• “Next summer, we should…”
• “When we have a bigger place…”
• “I wish you could come and meet my cousins at Christmas…”

See how casual those words sound? There is no second-guessing. Their plans for the future instantly include you in them.

According to a study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, couples who use “we-talk” more often than “I” and “me” express greater satisfaction and commitment.

That is, if your boyfriend is speaking in “we,” it’s not only adorable — it’s psychological evidence that he is head over heels in love.

Takeaway: If they’re dreaming about it with you as part of it, they’re already thinking forever.

3. They Never Get Tired of Showing You Affection

Affection isn’t always physical — it’s emotional, verbal, and sometimes even goofy.

It may be the hasty good morning message, the manner in which they squeeze your hand in a crowd, or the way they boast about you to their friends. These little gestures are love deposits that keep the relationship bank in balance.

I recall a couple I know who’ve been together for more than 20 years. Each night, religiously, he prepares her a cup of tea. Nothing elaborate. No grand details. Simply a daily routine that softly says, “I still choose you.”

Psychologists tell us that affection builds “emotional safety” — the type of connection where you never doubt you’re loved, even on bad days.

The takeaway: If your partner continues to discover ways, small or large, of reminding you how much you mean to them, they’re not only in love — they’re committed.

Final Thought

Love doesn’t always scream; sometimes it whispers.

It’s in the sacrifices, the mutual dreams, and the loving habits that never get old. If your partner is doing these three, odds are, they’re head over heels in love with you — not in a Hollywood-style, whirlwind romance kind of way, but in the constant, life-grounding type of love we all yearn for.

And be aware of the small things.
Because in love, the small things are the big things.

 If this resonated with you, follow me — I post weekly musings on love, relationships, and the psychology of human connection. What is one tiny sign that made you feel like someone genuinely loved you? Let me know in the comments — I’d love your story.