Why You Shouldn't Say 'I Love You' Too Soon

Picture this. You've been dating a new guy for a few weeks. Things are going amazingly well and you can't stop thinking about him. You connect on so many different levels and you just seem to get each other. He is exactly what you've been looking for in a man and, not only that, he exceeds your expectations.

In other words, you're in love with him and you're wondering if you should tell him exactly how you feel. But before you go saying "I love you," there are a few things you should know about saying these three little words too soon and why it might be a good idea to hold your tongue for a while.

Saying "I love you" too early puts intense pressure on the relationship. Suddenly, you aren't just dating anymore — you're in love. It's more serious and often times, more limiting.

Along with love comes expectations that a new relationship might not be able to live up to. Love implies forever; but how do you know that you want to be with someone forever if you haven't even been together for a month? 5 Common Love Epiphanies That Change The Course Of A Marriage

Dating should be about working on getting to know each other and, most importantly, having fun. When you throw the word "love" into the equation, you force yourself and your partner to look ahead to the future. This may cause you to stop paying anymore attention to living in the moment and enjoying where you are in the present day.

Love can't be rushed, no matter how soon you want to say it. It's important to keep in mind that just because you say it, doesn't mean your relationship will rise to the occasion.

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Another reason to avoid saying "I love you" too soon is the obvious one — you don't want to scare him off! While I'm a big believer that there is nothing wrong with a woman saying "I love you" first, saying it both first and too soon is a one-two-punch that might freak out most guys.

When you burst out those three words after only five dates, you come across as desperate and needy. Your guy might have a hard time deciphering if you truly love him or if you are just in love with the idea of being in love. 5 Common Myths About Sex

It also tells him that you are desperate to nail him down and are hoping he'll respond accordingly to reassure you that you're the only woman he's seeing. Most guys take these three little words immensely seriously though and won't go throwing them around just to give you a false sense of security or boost your confidence.

Before you profess your love to someone, it's important to evaluate if what you're feeling is truly love or something else, like infatuation or lust. Sometimes at first glance, these emotions can seem like love, but upon further inspection, you might realize that you aren't in love yet after all. Or perhaps you want to be in love so badly that you're willing to pretend you are in love.

Instead of giving your love away for free, hold on to it; treasure it. Don't give it to a man who has potential or who you hope could be "the one." When you do meet "the one," you'll be glad you didn't waste your "I love you" on anyone else. 3 Essential Tips For Traveling As A Couple