Ah, love. It is one of those feelings poets have wrestled with for centuries, one that propels so many movies and songs. But what, really, is love? How can one know if that flutter in one's chest is real, or just another infatuation that will blow over like yesterday's news?
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| Photo: Orione Conceição/Pexels |
Fear not, lovebirds, or lovelorn! Below, this post will help you tell the differences between love and infatuation, taking you through a sometimes confusing world of emotions.
Infatuation Fireworks
Infatuation can strike like a lightning bolt. You are under the influence of the object of your love. Every glance, every touch feels like electricity. Here are the hallmark symptoms that let you know you are infatuated:
- Preoccupation: Fixated on the physical appearance of your new partner and blind to potential flaws.
- Idealization: You see your beloved in a perfect light—a total lack of anomalous quirkiness or other battle-ending incompatibilities.
- Obsessive thinking: You cannot stop thinking about them at any point in time, which is also at the cost of other aspects of your life.
- Emotional seesaw: Your feelings are extremely intense and mood swings come within seconds from elation to jealousy. The Predictable Flame of Love
The Steady Flame of Love
Love is an emotion that has matured a great deal and is long-lasting. It comprises deep regard and attachment to the partner. Here is what love distinguishes:
- Mutual respect and understanding: You value each other's positives and negatives and work together against the odds. Intimacy and emotional connection: You feel safe in sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings with one another.
- Commitment and support: For each other, you are there through thick and thin to provide solid support.
- Growth and shared experiences: You encourage and inspire each other to become better versions of yourselves. Now, how do you identify which one you are going through?
- This is the thing: Respect, understanding, and shared values are the center of love, all of which get cultivated over some time. Meanwhile, feelings of infatuation are an intense but usually quite short-lived condition.
Remember
It's not wrong to feel infatuated! Many times, such a feeling serves as a real progressive spark in a deeper connection. However, if you want something that lasts, more important than the feeling of infatuation may be to cultivate further those qualities that really define love.
Ready to go deeper?
Here are some more tips for you:
- Spend quality time together: Get to know each other beyond superficialities.
- Practice open and honest communication: Share your thoughts and feelings openly.
- Focus on shared values and goals: What's your vision for the future?
- Observe how they treat you and others: Respect is one of the most important bases for a healthy relationship.
Having knowledge of the differences between love and infatuation will help in maneuvering through this beautiful world of emotions and finding a connection enriching in its true terms.