There comes a time in a relationship when one of you will utter those three very important little words. It's a significant moment, often accompanied by fears of rejection, feeling silly, being misunderstood or worse still, pressure.

Don't ever feel pressured to say, “I love you” unless you really mean it. It's better to say that you sincerely care about your significant other than falsely claiming to love her. Lying will inevitably come back to bite you in the butt, so don't even go there.

By the same token, don't force your mate to say or feel it in return because you're afraid he or she doesn't. Saying “I love you” and being in integrity with that statement means you have no demands back. Love is a gift that is given freely and without expectation.

Couples often feel the urge to amplify their feelings by projecting their affection onto one another and in the heat of the moment will blurt things out. But if you're not sure of your feelings and your mate tells you they love you, you must respond honestly.

If you love them, tell them. If you're unsure say, “Thank you for being so open, that makes me feel wonderful.” Or say, “That makes me very happy. I really care about you too.” If you don't feel the same way, be delicate when responding, as it could really hurt the other person. Don't ever dump your feelings onto your partner by responding with, “don't say that,” or, “I don't love you yet,” or “I'm not ready to hear that.” It takes courage to be vulnerable, so handle with care and compassion.

Show How You Feel

It's possible to go a long time in a relationship without saying, “I love you.” Often, actions speak louder than words and there are many other “little things” that indicate a person's level of affection for another. Women respond to “little sentiments,” those tidbits of information that might seem irrelevant to most men but become benchmarks in a woman's relationship — things like remembering the song that was playing on the radio when you first kissed or her favorite color or flower.

Men respond equally to small gestures. Leaving love notes under his pillow or packing a few power bars and a vitamin drink in his briefcase before he heads off for a long day at work can be extremely touching to a man.

You don't have to spend buckets of money to show your partner that he or she is precious to you. In the same respect, “talk is cheap,” and you can throw about “I love yous” like plates at a Greek wedding, but in order for the words to really make an impact, they must be backed up with significant action.

It's important to observe all the non-verbal clues in a relationship too. Determining if someone is right for you lies as much in his or her actions and in what they don't do, as it does in what they say. Telling your girlfriend that you want to spend more quality time with her and then spending weekends at the golf course just doesn't measure up.

As time goes by, your endearments will lose their meaning and your trust will begin to deteriorate.

Pay attention to the special things that touch your girlfriend or boyfriend and make an effort to introduce these into your relationship on a regular basis. It takes effort and mindfulness to create a phenomenal affinity with another person. But it's worth it because ultimately you reap the rewards.

His Needs, Her Needs

Yes, by now we all know that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, but what we haven't quite figured out is how in the heck are we supposed to ever get it together?

Here are a few guidelines to help you give each other what men and women need most in a relationship.

All the Dating Dos and Don'ts You'll Ever Need For Men

• DO agree to do things with her friends or family.

• DO listen attentively (lots of eye contact) and be interested in discovering her likes and dislikes.

• DO be affectionate and romantic. Send love notes and flowers, hold hands, give hugs and make loving phone calls.

• DO talk to your girlfriend. It's an important emotional need and you'll learn how to become more compatible through conversation.

• DO be honest and open. Build trust by sharing your thoughts, feelings, habits, likes, dislikes and daily activities.

• DON'T expect her to date you exclusively while you play around.

• DON'T expect sex.

All the Dating Dos and Don'ts You'll Ever Need for Women

• DO let him go out with his friends.

• DO allow him to withdraw or go into his cave, once in a while, without insisting he talk about it.

• DO engage in recreational activities with him — watch football, play sports, go fishing.

• DO make an effort to look attractive and wear out- fits that make you feel great.

• DO give him compliments and let him know he's appreciated.

• DON'T push him into commitment or saying he loves you.

• DON'T try to be who you think he wants you to be— be yourself.

• DON'T try to fix or change him.