Telling your friends how you feel: “I love you, bro”

Richie Benson feelings and emotions, friendship, healthy relationships

Guys, it’s okay to say ‘I love you’ to your male friends

In so many ways, saying ‘I love you’ can be the hardest three words to say in the English language. But it doesn’t have to be that way, especially between friends. Stereotypes around masculinity can make it especially difficult for boys and men to say those three words to their male friends. But there’s nothing wrong with loving your friends. And there’s also nothing wrong with telling them that you feel that way about them. The more we do it, the more we’ll be able to normalise telling our friends how much they mean to us. That’s the aim, anyway.

We often stop ourselves from saying those three little words to our friends because we’re worried about how others might react. What if they think you fancy your friend? But you might be surprised, and your fears could be largely misplaced. Love isn’t just about physical attraction: it can mean so many different things and plenty of them are non-romantic.

Saying ‘I love you’ to a close friend doesn’t suddenly mean that you find them physically attractive. Nor does it mean that you’ve suddenly changed your sexual orientation. Although, of course, it could mean these things, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Today, we’re talking about platonic love: a type of love that doesn’t involve sexual or romantic feelings. It’s usually reserved for friends in your inner circle. It’s about showing someone that they are of personal importance to you and that they add value to your life.

Perhaps you call it a ‘bromance’. Whatever you choose to call it, it’s a love based on the pillars of understanding and respect. So, if there’s someone you can think of in your life who you love, and you’d like to tell them, give it a try. Check out this Dose of Society’s YouTube video of guys telling their male friends that they love them: