Being in love is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. However, it’s often hard to distinguish signs of love from simple infatuation or attraction. If you’re wondering whether the butterflies in your stomach are more than just butterflies, you’ve come to the right place.
Even though people are different and express love in various ways, you can still recognize some definite signs that you love someone and that they love you.
Signs You Are in Love
Your empathy increases
The beginning of a relationship is characterized by intense feelings of passion and physical attraction. Once the infatuation passes, you’re left with a softer and more intimate part of love. This is when the trust between you starts to build, and when your empathy for your partner doesn’t seem to stop growing. Compassionate love is bound to last for a long time if you nurture it.
You can’t seem to stop looking at them
When we’re in love, our partner is the most beautiful person in the world to us. Just think back to your last conversation. Did you find it hard to focus on what they were saying because of the way they were talking?
When they’re doing something, do you find yourself just marveling at their beauty? This is one of the most common love signs that occurs when your partner is talking about something they’re passionate about. If all you can notice is their smile and the way their eyes light up, you can be confident in your feelings for them.
You can’t see a future without them
We all plan for the future, but if you notice that your plans suddenly include your partner regardless of the scenario – you’re definitely in love. Wanting to be around your partner for a long time is a sign of commitment, care, and deep connection.
If you notice your partner is using “we” when talking about the future, you can be confident they feel the same way about you. Aside from literally daydreaming about your life together, signs of love include thinking about vacations together, what they’ll look like in ten years, and how you’d get along with their family.
You pay attention to the details
The person we love tends to become the center of our world. We actively listen to what they have to say and pay attention to every little thing. If you remember the stories they told you from their childhood, know their coffee order by heart, and know just what comfort food to bring them when they’re feeling down – you are definitely falling in love.
You want to make them proud and happy
It’s normal to want to be happy and to succeed because of yourself. One of the most definite love signs is not being able to wait to share your success and happiness with your partner. In this case, your partner is usually the first person to receive your good news.
You can’t wait to tell them about that promotion or how well you handled a social situation. In other words, if your success wouldn’t mean as much to you without sharing it with them, you love this person.
You’re more open to activities that otherwise wouldn’t appeal to you
One of the signs of being in love is being open and attracted to the things you couldn’t quite see yourself doing before. For some people, it’s easy to get lost in your partner’s interests and forget your own. Trying new things just because your partner likes them doesn’t mean you’re losing yourself, though.
Instead, this is an opportunity to discover something new about yourself and the person you’re with. For most couples, this also means finding new hobbies they can do together. Embrace your newly found openness to experience, and see where it takes you.
You can’t stop thinking about them
They’re the first person you think about when you wake up and the last person you think about before you fall asleep. One of the most obvious signs of falling in love is that your thoughts seem to float back to them when you’re not together. You could just be walking down the street, and something will remind you of the one you love.
As soon as something interesting or funny happens, you can’t wait to tell them. Song lyrics suddenly have a deeper meaning, and you seem to connect almost everything with your relationship. In other words, you simply can’t seem to get your partner out of your mind, regardless of how much you try.
Physical Signs of Love
Feelings of warmth
Being next to the person you love can often make you feel very warm. In the beginning, this is usually the rush and high of the butterflies in your stomach. The excitement and anxiety of the butterflies on the first date has the potential to grow into comfort and security in the long run.
Your heart may speed up a little, and it’s as if warmth is spreading throughout your whole body. The electrifying feeling you get when you touch is one of the most obvious true love signs there are.
Synchronizing heartbeats
Studies have shown that the resting heart rates of couples in love tend to synchronize. This happens even if you’re just sitting next to each other without physical contact or talking. The study conducted by U2 also tested people who weren’t romantically involved and found that their heartbeats don’t start beating as one.
Smiling even when you don’t realize it
Smiling is one of the most definite signs of love. It happens when you don’t even realize it. You could be talking about something with someone and smile as soon as you mention your partner. It can appear even during the most serious conversations with your loved one. Dilated pupils and a wide smile are most often the first reactions your body has to seeing your partner.
Loss of appetite
Losing your appetite is very common when you start falling in love. All you can seem to think about is spending time with your partner, and food is the last thing on your mind. The loss of appetite is one of the first symptoms of falling in love. It doesn’t come alone, either. Most often, this is paired with increased libido and a lack of motivation to work.
Signs of Love Addiction
Anxiety over your partner leaving
Even if the relationship is functioning perfectly, you could still feel anxious over your partner leaving you. Needing constant assurance that they still like you, worrying they’ll break up with you over every little thing, and avoiding confrontation are not signs of a healthy relationship, but of love addiction.
Insecurities will be visible in every part of the relationship, regardless of how perfect it seems objectively. Whether it’s being uncomfortable with your partner going out without you, hanging out with people you don’t know, or constantly asking if things are okay – it’s bound to put a damper on your relationship and suppress any signs of true love.
Nothing but your partner makes you feel good
A partner shouldn’t be the only good thing in your life. They’re not here to complete you but to make your life better. If nothing but your partner makes you feel good or fulfilled, you could be a love addict.
It’s very important to find joy in yourself outside the relationship if you want it to be a healthy one. Enjoying your own hobbies and having plans without your partner involved, being okay with spending time alone, and having other people that make you happy are all signs of a healthy relationship.
The dependency on your partner can become so deep that you stop thinking there’s anything else worth living for. It doesn’t matter if the relationship is exhibiting healthy or toxic love signs, you can’t seem to picture life existing and moving on without your partner. It’s simply impossible to break up. In fact, some experts describe these feelings of deep dependency similar to the feelings of a drug addict. You’re constantly chasing the high of your next fix.
Being obsessed with your partner
Even though it’s normal to think about your partner often during the day, there is a limit. A sign of love addiction includes being absolutely obsessed about where your partner is at any given point in the day and what they’re doing.
If you need to constantly text them and can’t seem to go about your day without obsessing over how they’re spending their time, it’s likely that you’re exhibiting symptoms of codependency and love addiction.
How to fall in love?
Falling in love with someone else begins with loving yourself. Instead of putting all of your focus on the other person and what kind of partner you want, try focusing on what kind of partner you want to be. This will help determine what kind of relationship you want and how you function in a couple. Those are two very important factors for finding love and actually contributing to a healthy and happy relationship.
As well as that, you need to stop looking at love as a way to find happiness. If you’re not happy being on your own, the happiness you achieve by being someone’s partner can only be short-lived. You have to learn to be with yourself first. The moment you feel like a partner would be a nice addition to your life instead of a way to complete it is the moment you can begin searching for true love.
How long does it take to fall in love?
Even though some suggest there’s a universal formula for how long it takes for people to fall in love, it actually depends on a few factors: your age, personality, and romantic history. Your age is often tied with your romantic history, as you are more likely to fall in love quickly when you’re doing it for the first time and aren’t trying to actively avoid the risks of heartbreak. When you’re young, the feelings are still pretty new and can be quite overwhelming, which is why it’s common for teenagers and young adults to feel like they’re in love very quickly.
With longer dating history comes the fact that you might be more hesitant to fall in love. In other words, it may take you longer to fully warm up to and trust the person you’re with and start showing signs you’re in love, simply because you’re aware of all the potential risks. The fewer partners you’ve had, the more likely you are to fall in love quickly and form deeper emotional connections.
Your personality and outlook on love can possibly trump both of the previous factors. If you’re someone who’s open to people, doesn’t mind the risk of getting hurt, and enjoys being in a relationship – chances are you’re going to fall in love more quickly. Of course, the outlook on love can change with our experiences, making it even more challenging to answer when exactly you’ll feel head over heels for your partner.
What does love mean?
People all throughout history have tried to answer this question. In truth, there are as many definitions of love as there are people in the world. For some, it’s just a simple chemical reaction, while for others, it’s the purest feeling in the world.
The most widely accepted definitions of love include putting someone else’s happiness and needs above your own, feeling very attached, and having strong emotions of care, affection, and respect. Love can also be defined as a choice to care for, respect, help, and commit to someone else.
Conclusion
Signs of love can often be very subtle and confusing. You may think you love someone only to realize it was just a short-term attraction, or vice versa. Communicating openly with the person you want something more with is the best way to avoid heartbreak and figure out what you both truly feel for each other. In the end, it’s mutual trust and quality time that will distinguish a fling from a long-term relationship.