What is the difference between being in love and loving someone?
Relationship experts explain how platonic and romantic attraction differ.
Its all-consuming, completely complex, and utterly devastating at times.
And, even though everyone has the ability to feel love, its different stages are often misunderstood.
Being in love is a deeper, more stable phase that follows the initial infatuation.
It involves a stronger emotional connection, trust, and commitment to the relationship.
psychotherapist
Being in love has a deeper sense of security, understanding, and affection.
The importance of this?
Recognizing the contrasts between each stage can be especially valuable when it comes to understanding your relationships.
Picture this: youre thinking about the romantic relationship between two close friends.
When they first met, they couldnt stop talking about each other.
This was the phase of falling in love, which was marked by excitement, attraction, and newness.
They were inseparable, getting to know everything they could about each other.
As time went on, their relationship evolved and they entered the being in love phase.
They moved past the initial infatuation and began to build a deeper, more stable connection.
psychotherapist
They faced challenges together, supported each other, and became more comfortable with one another.
Eventually, their love matured into a deep commitmentloving someone.
This phase involved a conscious choice to remain dedicated and caring, even when the initial excitement faded.
Their relationship became a partnership rooted in affection, shared values, and a commitment to each other.
Keep reading to learn more about what love really is.
What is the difference betweenbeingin love andfallingin love?
If you think about it, theres a big difference between being in love and falling in love.
As DeAlto mentioned, falling in love is the first phase of a romantic relationship.
This can often be characterized by a rush of excitement and tons of attraction.
Its also the time, as DeAlto noted when peoples flaws can seem invisible to their new partners.
On the other hand, being in love is much deeper.
In this stage, couples will have a sense of comfort, security, and mutual respect.
This phase involves building a life together, facing challenges, and developing a deeper understanding of each other.
The relationship becomes grounded in companionship and long-term commitment.
What is the difference betweenbeingin love andlovingsomeone?
True love feels like a deep sense of connection and understanding.
Being in love is characterized by excitement and passion.
(Some people even haveanxiety when falling in lovesince it can be such a rush.)
In contrast, loving someone is a deeper, longer-lasting form of connection.
This goes beyond the initial thrill and involves a true commitment to one another.
Well, the answer varies from relationship to relationship.
I love you is about trust, safety, and acceptance.
How do you know youre in love?
Heres how to tell.
You feel a natural high
According to Groskopf, being in love can feel like youre on a high.
This is why being around your partner can make you feel so good.
You feel deeply cared for and protected while simultaneously excited.
Youreallycare about their happiness
When youre in love, your partners happiness is extremely important to you.
You might find yourself doing things to make their day better if you show love through acts of service.
No matter how you show love, youll prioritize your partners happiness, sometimes even over your own.
Vacation Fling Gets a Reality Check in New Romance Book Swept Away
4.
When a couple has these four things, it creates emotional bonding and security.
This deep emotional connection ties people together, giving them a sense of fulfillment and peace.
This bond only strengthens over time if youre in a healthy relationship.
You start to see them by your side in major life events, sticking with you through it all.
Envisioning a life with your partner also speaks to the love and trust you have in your relationship.
You miss them
When you love someone, youll find yourself missing them when youre not with them.
This feeling of longing can strengthen your bond, which means its healthy to not always be with them.
As the saying goes, Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
You feel sexy
To be in love, you must feel confident with your partner, explains House.
Their attraction towards you’re able to boost your self-esteemnot just in the relationship but in life overall.
You feel seen
When you love someone, youll feel like youre seen for who you really are.
Plus, itll boost your self-worth, knowing that someone genuinely appreciates you.
How can you tell if someone loves you?
Through Actions and Behaviors
To tell if someone loves you, look at their actions.
(As the saying goes, Actions speak louder than words.)
Someone who loves you will often show it through their actions and behavior, says DeAlto.
They consistently make an effort to spend time with you and prioritize your relationship.
They support your goals and dreams, encouraging you to be your best self.
Essentially, genuine love is shown through consistent efforts to make you feel valued and appreciated.
Trust us, no act of love is ever too small.
Through Communication
Without a doubt, communication is a vital aspect of a healthy relationship.
When someone loves you, theyll be open and honest with you.
The research showed how different attachment styles can influence relationships and how love evolves over time.)
What does true love feel like?
True love feels like a deep sense of connection and understanding, says DeAlto.
It includes mutual respect, trust, and commitment.
It involves mutual respect, trust, and a commitment to making each other happy.
At its core, its a blend of passion, intimacy, and deep friendship.
Is it better to love someone or to be in love with them?
In terms of a life partner, both pieces are important.
This kind of love is built on trust, respect, and commitment.
For a lasting, fulfilling relationship, you need both the initial connectionandthe emotional bond.
Its what helps you stay connected even during conflict.
Do feelings of love change over time?
Plain and simple, feelings of love can change.
However, this is not a bad thing.
Thats because love can grow, evolve, and strengthen over time.
In strong, healthy partnerships, love is always evolving, says Groskopf.
Each person must nurture their relationship to keep the love alive.
By having honest communication, their love can really grow.
Overall, falling in love and being in love are two very different things.
I think one of the best things about falling in love is that its not definable, says Reyes.
Falling in love can happen many times in our lives and it can feel completely different every time.
There isnt a lot of logic attached to falling in lovethat comes with staying in love.
Langeslag, Sandra J. E., and Jan W. van Strien.
Regulation of Romantic Love Feelings: Preconceptions, Strategies, and Feasibility.PLOS ONE, vol.
8, 16 Aug. 2016, p. e0161087, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4987042/, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161087.
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