Let’s be honest. We all take things for granted from time to time.

If your partner makes you delicious breakfast every morning, you will soon begin to expect it, and when they don’t deliver, you’ll think something’s wrong.

If they shower you with compliments, you may get so used to it that you might forget to offer some compliments in return.

And while it’s okay to occasionally lose sight of your blessings (life happens), it’s important to always check back in with yourself and recognize your partner for who they are: someone invaluable who loves you with all their might.

Does your partner love you more than you realize?

These are the 7 signs to look out for.

1) They work on themselves in order to be better for you

Do you know the quote “You make me want to be a better man?”

Well, if someone feels that way about you, it can mean one of two things: they either want to change because their behavior at present isn’t good enough to keep you, or they feel so inspired by you that they actively work on themselves not only to improve your relationship but also to increase their own happiness and well-being.

The first may potentially be manipulative or desperate and rooted in low self-esteem. The latter, however…

That’s where true love resides.

When two people inspire each other to grow into the highest versions of themselves, when they put in an active effort to be the partners they know they deserve for one another, and when they create a positive feedback loop of love and motivation, they are nurturing the purest kind of love there is.

The kind that is rooted in appreciation, effort, reciprocity, and motivation.

Psychologist Jessica Koehler Ph.D. agrees: “Relationships can offer personal growth and development opportunities. Choose a partner who inspires you to be the best version of yourself and supports your personal growth and development.”

2) They call you out when you’re sabotaging your growth

And speaking of personal growth, a partner who loves you more than you realize is going to be honest with you – even in moments when you don’t want to hear it.

I mean, what’s better proof that your partner has your best interests at heart than their willingness to enter a severely uncomfortable situation that potentially ends up upsetting you just because they know the truth is what you need to hear right now?

Exactly.

One time, I was acting completely out of character when it came to one of my friendships. I didn’t lie per se, but I did omit certain truths in order to make the situation easier for me, and when it all came out, my friend was very upset (understandably so).

When I confided in my partner at the time, he didn’t tell me I’d done nothing wrong. On the contrary, he gently called me out on my behavior, asked me why I’d chosen to go about things this way, and gave me his true opinion on the matter.

It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but it *was* what I *needed* to hear.

Tough love is still love.

(However, do keep in mind that there is a difference between tough love and brutal honesty. The first comes from a genuinely good place; the second is just cruelty in disguise.)

3) They regularly check in on you

“Relationship check-ins are a sure-fire way to boost your connection with your partner,” says psychologist Mark Travers Ph.D.

While the check-ins he mentions take the form of regular conversations (for example, you can sit down and go through a list of different things every week or month to make sure you’re on the same page emotionally, administratively, and socially), a check-in can also manifest as a small inquiry about your well-being here and there.

Does your partner often ask you how you are? Whether you feel okay? And if not, is there anything they can do to help? Would you like to talk about it?

This is a huge sign your partner loves you more than you realize because it means they care deeply about your mental and physical health.

And if you’d like to get some more ideas on what regular check-ins could look like, here are the 3 questions Travers recommends you and your partner ask each other:

• Did you feel supported and appreciated in the past month?
• Have there been any conflicts or challenges that we haven’t fully resolved?
• Is there anything you want to see more or less of in our relationship?

4) They make future plans with you – and put them into action

Look, it’s one thing to plan your future with someone and it’s another to actually make those dreams a reality.

Plenty of people will promise you romantic trips around the globe, a happy family, and never-ending happiness.

Not everyone will show you that they’re being completely serious in the here and now, though.

If your partner brings up that they’d like to go on a weekend trip sometime next month, they should also try to come up with ideas for places you could visit and the kinds of activities you’ll do there, not to mention they ought to make it a concrete plan that is certainly going to happen.

In other words, one way to find out whether your partner genuinely loves you is to see if they’re all words, no action, or if their promises are always followed up by active steps in the real world.

If it’s the latter…

Congratulations! That’s the fourth sign your significant other truly adores you ticked off our list.

5) They want to spend quality time with you

If this one sounds like a no-brainer to you, it means you’re already headed in the right direction.

You’d be surprised at how many couples don’t spend enough quality time together. Sure, they might watch TV and snack on crisps every evening, but that doesn’t really count because the definition of “quality” is missing.

According to Bruce Y. Lee M.D., M.B.A., “’ Quality time’ allows two people to give each other undivided attention for meaningful conversations that can help them connect on a deep level. Undivided attention enables you to make the other person your sole focus.”

He adds, “That means not watching something else, not texting friends, and not scrolling through social media to see how many people liked your picture of potato salad at the same time. It means truly taking in what the other person says and providing appropriately thoughtful responses.”

If you and your partner aren’t getting enough quality time together, it could just mean you’re not prioritizing it enough and should have a more careful look at your schedules.

But it could also signal that a very fundamental part of a healthy and sustainable romantic relationship is missing: friendship.

See, far too many people think that romantic and sexual chemistry are enough to keep a relationship going. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Friendship – which includes a genuine desire to have deep and stimulating conversations with the other person – is what helps a couple stick together in the long run.

6) They subconsciously imitate your body language

Ever heard of empathetic mimicry?

It’s what happens when people who share a strong bond with each other begin to imitate one another’s facial expressions and gestures over time.

This is why couples who have spent decades in each other’s company start to look more alike. Since they’re using the same facial muscles to pull the same facial expressions, their appearance slightly changes as the years go by.

Pretty cool, huh?

It seems very bizarre to say that a sign your partner loves you more than you realize is that they effectively look like you, but…

Well, it’s the truth. In part, at least.

Someone who imitates your facial expressions and mirrors your body language is so full of empathy toward you that they’re in sync with your nonverbal communication.

7) They remember very small details about you

Someone who loves you deeply is going to pay attention when you tell them about your day, your experiences, and your past.

Full stop.

They may not remember every single detail you bring up, of course, but overall, they should have a pretty clear picture of who you are and what makes you… well, you.

Your romantic partner is one of the closest people in your life. If they don’t know you as well as your best friends, what’s the point?

Therefore, the final sign your partner loves you more than you realize is that they remember both the small and the big things you tell them – not because they have to but because they genuinely want to know you as much as possible.

To be loved is to be known.