How Do You Really Know When You Love Someone?
On the surface, love seems simple enough. Either you love someone or you don’t, but even the Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s definition of love is quite ambiguous. Their simple definition of love is “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person,” or “attraction that includes sexual desire,” or “a person you love in a romantic way.” How easily can infatuation or obsession conform to this definition? How do you know if you really, really like someone or actually love them?
To help cut through some of the confusion and haze surrounding this big feeling, we’ve outlined some tips to help you determine if your love is the real deal.
The mundane becomes fun
A loving couple | iStock.com
It’s easy to enjoy yourself when you’re on a romantic date or sinking your feet into white sand beaches, but love makes a trip to the DMV enjoyable and can transform a day of errands into one of the best days of your life. When you’re with the right person, even the cloudiest days will seem sunny and the most mundane tasks will contain an element of fun. Simply put, having someone you love by your side makes everything in life more enjoyable.
Your future includes your partner
A couple enjoying each other’s company | iStock.com
When you’re single, every choice you make is based on what’s best for you. When you love someone, your mind will naturally shift gears to accommodate the other person’s needs. You’ll find yourself wondering if that career move you’ve been considering is good for the both of you or if it makes sense to visit your family or theirs over the holidays. When you love someone, you’ll want them by your side at your best friend’s wedding, when you buy your first house, and as you grow old.
Your significant other’s imperfections don’t matter
A couple intimately talking at a coffee shop | iStock.com/ArthurHidden
Before you met this person, you may have said you’d never date someone who loved pop music or didn’t like to ski, but those rules will be thrown out the window the moment you fall in love. Love has a way of overpowering any sort of preconceived ideas or rules you set in place. It also transforms a person’s imperfections into unique qualities you happily embrace. When you’re in love, the fact that your significant other has a habit of coughing without covering their mouth or likes to lounge in bed while you prefer to get up and go for a run won’t seem like such a big deal.
Your partner makes you a better person
A couple happily in love | iStock.com
While you will always be uniquely you, when you develop a relationship with someone you love your whole sense of self may change. You may take on new characteristics or strive to be a better version of yourself. Rather than spending the weekends playing video games, you may get into hiking or find yourself training for a 5k alongside your partner. The things you care about, your habits, and the way you spend your time may be dramatically influenced by your love for another person.
He or she is always on your mind
A couple falling in love | iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages
When you’re in love, everything will remind you of that person. Whether it’s a post on Instagram, an advertisement, or a dog you see on the street, this person will never be far from your thoughts. In response to this reaction, you’ll find yourself talking about him or her to your friends, family, co-workers, or whoever will listen and texting them just to say “hi” or check in.
You’ve lost interest in other people
A couple dancing and drinking together | iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages
When you find true love, it will feel easy to let go of past lovers and current crushes. Even your first love or previous infatuations will fade away. While you’ll always objectively notice an attractive person, you’ll truly believe your significant other is the most attractive person on the planet and no one can compare. True love is so engulfing that this one person will be more than enough to satisfy and fulfill you.
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