TRANSFORMATIONAL coach Courtney Kazembe says understanding the definition of love is most critical in a relationship. Understanding this definition enables you to not mistake mere attention for love, and enables you to identify when someone's stomach has butterflies for you.

Here are some signs.

1. He showers you with attention.

"When a man loves a woman there is going to be some amount of attention involved," Kazembe explained. So if he always remembers your birthdays and anniversaries, if he sends you love notes on Facebook, if he loves walking the streets with you holding hands, then he loves you like crazy.

2. He genuinely cares about you.

He wants to know all about you. He is interested in your likes and dislikes, your favourite meal, what makes you laugh, what makes you cry. He will go the extra mile to make you happy, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness. This means that he genuinely cares about you, and caring and loving go hand in hand.

3. He respects you.

"If he loves you, you are going to get a certain amount of respect -- the way the person talks to you, the way he deals with you, the way he honours you," Kazembe said.

4. He trusts you.

"If he loves you, there is going to be a level of trust," the transformational coach said. "It means I am not just trusting you to do what I want you to do, but whatever you do I trust that you do it because it is best for you." Love means that there is no worry over unfaithfulness and the like, as the first utterance of trust is enough to ensure the sustenance of the relationship.

5. He has your best interests at heart.

"If there is love present then it means I want to please you, I want to make sure that I understand you, and understand what pleases you," Kazembe explained.

On top of that, when he loves you he thinks you are the best thing since shaving cream and will protect you from whoever doesn't have your best interests at heart.

6. He gives you freedom.

"If I love you I give you freedom to grow and freedom to be whatever you want to be, including the freedom not to be around me," Kazembe said.

7. He wants to spend quality time with you.

"If I love you, I want to spend time with you," Kazembe said. "I am interested in you, not just that I want to be romantic with you, but I am interested in you as a human being. I want to go for a walk with you, I want to sit down and talk with you."

8. He opens up to you.

Men by nature are not usually big talkers until they find someone they care about to open up to. If he shares his hopes and dreams with you, and you spend entire nights discussing his childhood and his plans for a future with you, then he truly loves you.