When you know, you just know, right?

That’s what they always say about love and relationships. And maybe it’s true for some, but it’s certainly not for others.

In fact, my partner and I sat on the fence for quite a while before we were ready to truly commit. It took a year and a half before “the L word” was uttered.

If anything, this has only strengthened our relationship because we took our time and went at a slow pace.

Yet as feelings grow there is often an emotional grey area. Love is there, but you don’t necessarily see it clearly yet.

But there are some subtle signs if you look hard enough that will reveal his true feelings.

1) He prioritizes you

When a man consistently makes you a priority in his life, it shows that he values you.

That doesn’t mean he is going to ditch everything else that is important to him and always put you first all the time.

But it does mean you will feel like you are one of those important things.

He is prepared to put himself out for you and make sacrifices.

He actively seeks out opportunities to spend time with you

He respects your time.

He is proactive and doesn’t leave it all to you.

Whether it’s planning a date night or simply checking in on how your day was, he shows his affection through his actions.

In short:

He commits time, energy, and effort.

I’m a big believer that actions speak louder than words.

Anyone who has ever fallen for love bombing will know that words come cheap. It’s consistency in behavior that we can rely upon.

2) He has the look of love (and other body language clues)

We’ve all heard it said that the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Well, they may also give you a glimpse into his true feelings for you.

Staring deeply into your eyes, and not being able to keep his eyes off you are an indication of love.

It’s so powerful that a study published in the Journal of Research and Personality found that when two strangers were asked to gaze into each other’s eyes for two minutes it was enough in some cases to produce passionate feelings for each other.

Whilst it is hard to define, when he looks at you with loving eyes, you probably just feel it.

Other significant physical signs to watch out for include how much he touches you and how close he gets.

As clinical psychologist Carla Marie Manly, Ph.D. explains:

“When someone is falling in love, they’ll often lean toward their partner in a way that feels different from being sexually interested. It’s a leaning-in that says, ‘I enjoy you; I want to be closer to you.”

3) He shows little signs of healthy jealousy

 While jealousy is not always a positive emotion, it can be a sign that a man has strong feelings for you.

It’s important to note that jealousy should not be excessive or controlling. But the reality is that when care about someone, we don’t want to lose them.

This can show up in mild jealousy, like when you’re interacting with other men.

As explained by Psychology Today, it’s a subconscious sign of his investment in you.

“Jealousy is seen as a necessary emotion, because it preserves social bonds and motivates people to engage in behaviors that maintain important relationships.”

If a guy is bothered by other potential romantic interests in your life, it’s a positive signal he wants to protect what he has.

4) He listens to you

 A man who truly cares about you will listen attentively to you when you speak.

Consequently, he remembers the little details you share with him.

He engages in meaningful conversations and shows a genuine interest in your thoughts, experiences, and feelings.

This is also a positive sign that he finds you interesting, so he wants to hear what you have to say.

And as we’ll see next, this strong foundation of friendship should never be underestimated.

5) You’re the best of friends

When we talk about love we can focus far too much on the passion and romance side of things.

That’s not to say that desire and attraction aren’t important. But sustainable love and relationships are built on more, and psychology backs this up.

Studies have shown how friendship, shared laughter, companionship, and enjoying the same activities and interests together play a significant role.

So much so, that when it comes to long-term relationship satisfaction, getting on is more important than any fireworks or butterflies you may have felt in the beginning.

6) He thinks about a future with you in it

Of course, you can’t know what’s going on in his head without asking. But if he does see you as part of his future, he’ll let you know.

For example, he uses “we” language instead of “I”. This tells you that he factors you into his thoughts and plans. He thinks of you as a team.

He will also do things that start to integrate you into his life, like introduce you to his friends, family, and colleagues.

He won’t be afraid to make plans ahead of time, arranging events and trips potentially months in advance.

When he discusses the future, he may talk in terms of your goals and plans as a couple rather than just his own.

7) He wants to be there at your worst

 Relationships are understandably a lot easier when everything so far has been smooth sailing.

That’s why lots of couples only discover the strength of their love when they hit a slightly rocky patch.

 For example, when you have your first arguments or disagreements, but stick around and want to work through it.

 It’s a sign of love rather than just lust if he’s still there during your worst times, like when you’re sick or struggling.

He is prepared to share the bad times just as much as the good.

8) He respects your boundaries

A guy who tries to get away with just about anything doesn’t really love you, certainly not in a way you deserve.

Love isn’t selfish.

When you love someone, you want to support and care for the other person.

That means respect is essential.

If he respects your decisions and your word on something, it is a sign of that of this.

It shows that he sees you as an equal and not just someone who he can get his needs and wants met with.

9) He opens up to you

I’ve been in relationships in the past that didn’t stand a chance.

Before I got wise to it I would habitually seek out those emotionally unavailable guys.

The problem was, that they were effectively closed for business.

It was all fine when we were having a good time, but it never went further because they were closed off to the possibility.

If a guy loves you, he will open his heart and mind to you.

That means sharing his deeper thoughts and feelings. It’s a powerful sign of trust and connection.

Final thoughts

If you want confirmation that things are heading in the right direction, hopefully, this list of signs he loves you has offered clarity.

Paying attention to his actions and behaviors around you can give insight into his true feelings.

But remember, communication is key in any relationship.

So don’t be afraid to have an open and honest conversation with him about one another’s feelings and your hopes for where the relationship is going.