Joseph Gloriana8 days agoI (19M) have been dating my girlfriend (18F) for three months, though we've known each other for longer. She’s struggled with low self-esteem for years and often relies on external validation, especially from others, to feel good about herself. In the past, I've always shown her love through compliments and affirmations—about everything from her appearance to her personality—but recently she’s expressed a desire to work on loving herself without needing constant validation from others, including me. This has left me unsure of how to express my love for her without feeding into her reliance on outside approval. We’ve drifted a bit recently, partly because of the busy schedules we both have, and I’ve noticed that even when she’s out at a party, her responses to my texts are short and distant. I want to show her that I love her and appreciate her, but I’m worried that if I keep complimenting her or expressing my love the way I used to, it might disrupt her journey of self-love. TL;DR: My girlfriend wants to stop depending on others for validation and focus on loving herself. Now I’m unsure how to show her I love her and compliment her without interfering with her personal growth.1771
Joseph GlorianaJoseph Gloriana