Emotion: Adoration

When you want to write the emotion adoration, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid emotion tells and immerse your readers in your story.

Adoration is an intense feeling of love and admiration towards someone or something. It's a feeling of strong affection and respect towards a person or an object that is valued or cherished. Adoration often involves a sense of reverence or worship, as well as an appreciation of the qualities or characteristics that make the object of adoration so special. It can be directed towards a romantic partner, a family member, a friend, a celebrity, a pet, or even a favorite book or movie. Adoration can be a powerful and transformative emotion that can inspire creativity, motivation, and personal growth.

Different Types of Adoration

Here are some different types of adoration:

• Romantic adoration: intense love, passion, and admiration towards a romantic partner.
• Idolization: worship and admiration towards someone famous or powerful, often from afar.
• Hero worship: intense admiration and respect towards a hero or a mentor.
• Familial adoration: deep love and affection towards family members, such as parents or siblings.
• Admiration for a friend: deep appreciation and respect towards a close friend for their qualities or actions.

Situations Associated with Adoration

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of adoration:

• Meeting someone they admire and respect deeply
• Witnessing an act of selflessness or bravery that inspires them
• Seeing someone achieve a great accomplishment that they have been working towards
• Being in a romantic relationship with someone they deeply care about
• Having a close relationship with a mentor or role model
• Having a child and feeling overwhelming love and pride for them
• Being reunited with a loved one after a long separation
• Being recognized and appreciated for their hard work and accomplishments by someone they respect

Physical Reactions to Adoration

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing adoration might have:

• Wide eyes and a bright smile
• Leaning towards the person/object of adoration
• Dilated pupils
• Giggling or laughing
• Blushing or flushing of the cheeks
• Elevated heart rate
• Increased sweating
• Raised eyebrows and an open expression
• Touching or caressing the object of adoration
• Giving compliments or praises
• Talking excitedly or in a hushed tone
• Struggling to find words to express their admiration
• Daydreaming or getting lost in thought about the object of adoration.

Remember, these are just some common physical signs and behaviors. Depending on the individual and the situation, they may express adoration differently. As a writer, it's important to observe and understand the nuances of this emotion to create well-rounded and believable characters.

Thoughts Associated with Adoration

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing adoration might have:

• I can't believe I get to be in the same room as them.
• I've admired them from afar for so long, and now they're right in front of me.
• Everything they do seems so perfect and graceful.
• I can't help but smile every time they speak.
• I want to impress them and make them proud.
• I could listen to their voice all day.
• I feel so lucky to be in their presence.
• I want to learn everything about them.
• I hope they notice me and see how much I admire them.

Atmosphere of Adoration

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of adoration in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use beautiful and serene settings, such as a garden, a sunset, or a beach, to evoke a feeling of peace and joy.
• Describe the scene with vivid and sensory details, such as the scent of flowers, the sound of waves, or the warm rays of sunlight, to create a sense of comfort and familiarity.
• Introduce a beloved character or object that is cherished by the protagonist, such as a pet, a family member, or a treasured possession, to show their deep affection and admiration.
• Use metaphors and similes to compare the setting or atmosphere to something the protagonist loves or admires, such as a painting, a song, or a poem, to reinforce the emotion of adoration.
• Show the protagonist engaging in an activity that they love or excel at, such as playing an instrument, writing a story, or cooking a meal, to convey their passion and dedication.

Verbs Associated with Adoration

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of adoration:

• Hold in high regard

Emotions Before Adoration

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences adoration:

• Curiosity
• Interest
• Fascination
• Delight
• Joy
• Gratitude
• Appreciation
• Affection
• Fondness

Emotions After Adoration

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences adoration:

• Gratitude
• Contentment
• Joy
• Satisfaction
• Happiness
• Euphoria
• Peacefulness
• Fulfillment
• Affection

Telling Adoration Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion adoration in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• He adored her.
• She was adored by many.
• The adoration in his heart was overwhelming.
• He couldn't help but feel adoration for her.
• The adoration between them was palpable.
• She was the object of his adoration.
• He had always felt adoration for his mother.
• The crowd's adoration for the performer was evident.
• He was filled with adoration for his newborn daughter.

Practical Examples of Showing Adoration

Here are some examples of showing adoration in a sentence:

• She couldn't take her eyes off him, feeling a warm glow spreading through her chest.
• His smile made her heart skip a beat, her admiration for him growing stronger with each passing day.
• She found herself daydreaming about him, imagining their life together and feeling grateful for every moment they spent together.
• Every time he walked into the room, she felt a rush of excitement, her eyes fixed on him as if he was the only person in the world.

Exercises for Showing Adoration

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing adoration:

• Write a scene where the character is admiring someone or something they deeply respect, describing in detail what they see and feel.
• Create a character who is devoted to a cause or a person, and show how their actions reflect their adoration.
• Write a love letter or a poem from the character to the object of their adoration, exploring their feelings and emotions.
• Describe the character's physical reactions when they see the object of their adoration, such as a racing heart or sweaty palms.
• Write a scene where the character is willing to make sacrifices or take risks for the sake of the object of their adoration.
• Show how the character's adoration affects their relationships with others, both positively and negatively.
• Explore the character's past experiences that have led to their feelings of adoration, and how those experiences shape their actions and thoughts.

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotional thesaurus.