Should I Tell Him I Like Him? 17 Signs & Ways to Pick the Right Time

You’re in such a dilemma because you like this guy but you don’t know if he likes you. So, you think, “should I tell him I like him?” Here are the answers.

Do you remember in elementary school giggling with your best friend about who you had a crush on and sending your friend to tell them? Then they would come skipping back with a secret smile and all the juicy information on if they liked you back. Well, you probably asked your friends, “should I tell him I like him” before they did that.

But you’re an adult, so now what?

Man, those were the days. It may have seemed like a hard thing to do at the time, but in comparison to telling someone how you feel as an adult, it was like a walk in the park!

Now, instead of giggles and hushed gossiping with friends, it’s all about anxiety and not telling anyone—especially the person you like.

What makes us want to keep quiet about our feelings?

It seems kind of silly—hiding your feelings of affection toward someone.

But we’ve been conditioned to hide how we really feel in order to protect our own feelings. Nobody likes rejection. It takes a toll on our self-worth, and it is painful to be rejected! [Read: Does he like me? 23 signs to decode his body language]

We’re also a ridiculously anxious species. Our mind fills with a million questions resulting in worst-case scenario thinking. What if they don’t like me? What if this ruins our friendship? What if I make a complete fool out of myself? All of these things prevent us from telling someone we like them.

How to know if it’s time to tell him you like him

Fear, anxiety, and the unknown can only keep your true feelings hostage for so long. There comes a point when you really need to face that special person, let your feelings out, and tell him what’s on your mind.

It will be scary. It will be hard. But it will be rewarding no matter what happens.

You may think you can hold onto those feelings, but if you’re experiencing any of the following signs, it’s time to take action and do something about it. You should tell him you like him. [Read: How to show a guy you like him, charm him and still be a tease]

What you need to know before you tell him you like him

There’s just one suggestion we have before you reveal your feelings for him. Don’t ever do it out of the blue. Always make sure he has some kind of clue before you tell him you have feelings for him.

The biggest mistake most people make while confessing their affection is to assume the guy will just say yes. But that’s not always the case – he may have a girlfriend already, he may only see you as a friend, or in the worse case, he just may not be interested.

If you play your cards right, drop just the right kind of hints, rouse his interest, and make him wonder if you have feelings for him, you’ll be able to make him fall hard for you even before you ever tell a guy you like him! Just read this guide on how to get a guy to like you and the 26 super moves that drive men crazy so you know you’re doing everything right before asking him out.

Should I tell him I like him? Let’s find out right now!

Now that you know how to tease a guy and warmed him up to the idea of dating you, let’s talk about whether you should tell a guy you like him. Read these signs and by the time you’re done with them, you’ll know for sure if the timing is just right.

1. You want to

First and foremost, you have to actually want to tell him you like him. This doesn’t mean you’re jumping with joy at the thought of telling him, because honestly you probably start sweating, your heart starts pumping faster, and your body fills up with anxiety at just the thought of it.

But if you truly feel like you would be happiest if he knew how you really felt, that’s the first sign it’s time to tell him. You might be scared to tell him, but you know you want to. [Read: How to talk to a guy – 34 ways to sweet talk him and make him like you]

2. You sense he might feel the same way

This is a MAJOR sign you should bite the bullet and confess your feelings for him. If you think there is even the slightest chance he might feel the same way about you, you have to tell him.

Why would you want to waste any more time concealing all those feelings? Don’t hold it back anymore! You’ll be glad that you did—and he will too. [Read: 27 signs he likes you as more than a friend and wants to date you]

3. You can’t be around him because of your feelings

Have you ever liked someone so much you couldn’t even be with them because you didn’t know how to act? Because your feelings got the better of you and you couldn’t handle it?

Yeah, we’re sure you have. If this is the case with this new guy, you need to tell him. Not only does it open the opportunity for the two of you to be something, but, even if things don’t go as planned, you got everything off your chest making your life much easier.

4. He’s in your everyday life

It’s really hard to hide how you feel around someone who is always there. If they’re someone you see on a daily basis and you can’t help but like them, you need to tell them. Odds are, they already know.

They can probably tell by your everyday actions there is something more going on. Plus, if he’s around every day, it might be a solid sign he’s also into you. [Read: Why isn’t he asking you out yet? 27 reasons and how to get him to ask you out]

5. You can be yourself around him

Even though you might have a mad crush on him and get all squirmy when he comes near you, if you feel like you can really be yourself and you don’t have to hide your personality around him, you should definitely tell him you like him.

This is a rarity—finding someone who you like and can be 100% yourself around isn’t something that happens every day. Take that chance and tell him how you feel. [Read: What does babe mean when it’s coming from someone you like?]

6. You know he’ll take you seriously

There’s nothing worse than confessing your deep feelings for someone and having them laugh in your face because they think you’re joking. Your guy friend may just assume you’re being fully or having a laugh!

So you should only tell the guy if you know he’ll take you seriously. If you have any reservations he might think you’re joking or ignore the whole thing completely, wait until the time is right. [Read: How to let a guy know you’re interested in him without being overeager]

7. Your futures are in sync

There are a lot of people who say you should tell the person you have feelings for that you like them no matter what. Meaning who cares if it won’t work out, go for it! While this can be a good idea, it’s not always the best one.

Some people just don’t make sense. Sure, you can like him, but if you have polar opposite life and future plans, does it really make much sense to pursue it?

Make sure you two have similar future plans lined up before jumping right in. Well, that is, unless you’re just looking for a casual fling with him because you find him very sexually attractive! [Read: 20 sexy ways to tell a guy you want to have sex with him and not feel slutty]

8. You have support from friends

If he means a lot to you, you have probably already informed all of your friends. And those friends have more than likely told you what they think about you and him—good or bad.

If your friends have given you the green light and think it’s a great idea for you to divulge your feelings for him, get out there and do it!

Having support makes it a lot easier and shows the two of you would make a great match. [Read: 15 sneaky ways to use your friends and get a guy to ask you out]

9. You know him better than most

You should definitely tell him you like him if you know more about him than anyone else. This means you two are close enough to share those important details about each other’s lives. And since you know so much about him, you truly like him for him.

Also, if you know him that well, that means he knows you too. And if that’s the case, then he will take you seriously. Not only that, he will also be gentle with your feelings if he doesn’t feel the same way.

10. You think about him more often than not

If he is clouding your mind all throughout the day and you just can’t seem to not think about him, you should just tell him you like him!

When someone is taking up that much of your mind, you need to tell them how you feel because what you feel is too much to go unnoticed.

You might be scared to tell him, because there is some part of you that really enjoys being consumed with thoughts about him – and even obsessed. It’s become part of your life. But, obsession isn’t healthy.

Maybe you should tell him how you feel. That way, you can either move into a relationship with him, or move on if he doesn’t have mutual feelings. [Read: Dammit, why doesn’t he like me back? 31 reasons why guys do this]

11. He’s single

If he’s single, you’re single, and you have feelings for him, you should absolutely let him know how you feel! There’s really no foul play when you both are single and in a good place to be seeing people.

Never tell someone how you feel if they’re in a relationship. It will put hardship on you, them, and their significant other. And you never want to be the cause of any breakups—it never works out. [Read: Does my guy friend like me? 15 signs he’s crushing on you]

12. You’re single

This might be an obvious sign, but it isn’t for some people. If you are in a relationship, don’t tell some other guy that you like him, even if you think he likes you back. It’s just not ethical to do that.

If you’re not happy with your boyfriend, then either try to fix it with him, or break up before you go pursuing another guy. That’s just the right thing to do.

13. You feel like if you hold in the truth for another minute you might just explode

Feeling like you can’t keep this secret inside any longer is an important indicator you should be spilling your guts to this person. If you’ve thought about it often and just can’t go another day without—go tell him!

Just remember you may or may not have a happy ending after you tell him how you feel. The excitement of telling him how you feel might cloud your judgment for what could happen as a result – good or bad. [Read: How to show a guy you like him and charm him while being a real tease]

14. You are mentally and emotionally prepared for a rejection

Sure, you want to hear “Omg I really like you too! Let’s date and/or will you be my girlfriend?” But what if you don’t hear that back?

What if you hear something along the lines of, “Oh, that’s so sweet. Thank you. You’re a great girl, but I just don’t think we’re right for each other.”

Will you be shattered? Do you think your world will come crashing down around you? If so, maybe you should wait to tell him how you feel – or at least wait until there’s some chemistry between you two.

No matter what, you need to be prepared for the fact that you could get rejected. No one likes that, but it’s a very real possibility. [Read: 20 strong signs of sexual tension to know if you make each other horny]

What to do if you get rejected

So, let’s say you tell the guy you like him, and things don’t go your way, and he does reject you. That won’t be fun, and you will obviously be disappointed. Now what? How do you handle the overwhelming feelings? Here are some tips for making yourself feel better if he rejects you.

1. Think about it differently

Yes, you’ve been obsessed with this guy for a long time, and now your fantasy about being with him has been destroyed. It’s easy to feel like you will never find love ever again.

But hey… just stop it. Stop thinking like that. There are plenty of other guys out there. And would you really want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with you?

Well, you shouldn’t. So, now you have a chance to find the RIGHT guy for you. Because he obviously isn’t it. [Read: How to attract men -The irresistible secrets no one ever talks about]

2. Find another guy to date

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move forward. You have to find someone else now – that’s just the reality of the situation.

So, don’t deny the rejection or hope that he’ll change his mind. If he told you he doesn’t want to be with you… believe him. Get on some dating apps and find someone else!

You will immediately feel better about yourself when you start getting attention from other guys. Have your friends help you set up a profile and seek support from them. You will definitely find another guy to talk to in no time. [Read: How to get a guy’s attention in any circumstance and wow him effortlessly]

3. And this too shall pass

When we are emotionally devastated about something, we think that the feeling will last forever. We desperately want the negative emotions to go away, but we think they never will.

But here’s the truth – this too shall pass. In other words, eventually you will look back on this and not care. You may even laugh about it. As the saying goes, “everything happens for a reason.” You will get past this. Just hang in there and believe that.

[Read: How to tell a guy you like him in 20 very sweet ways and grab that date]

It’s really hard to tell when you should or should not confess that you have feelings for someone. These signs and tips will help you know when that time has arrived that you should tell him you like him.