Week 3: Chapter 2 — Love Language #1: Words of Affirmation

1.Chapman describes Words of Affirmation as verbal expressions of love, encouragement, appreciation, and praise. He distinguishes between complimenting someone's appearance, affirming their character, and expressing verbal gratitude for specific acts. Which of these three forms of affirmation do you find most natural to give? Which do you find hardest?

2.Think of a specific compliment or word of encouragement someone offered you that has stayed with you for years. What made it land so powerfully? What does that memory tell you about your own love language?

3.Chapman warns that words can also be used as weapons — that criticism, sarcasm, and put-downs do the opposite of filling a love tank. He calls this speaking 'words of destruction' rather than affirmation. Have you experienced a relationship where words were regularly used destructively? How did it affect your sense of worth and safety?