If you believe in reincarnation, you know the soul continues beyond death. You know that this life is just one of countless lives you’ve already lived before. And with each life, your soul accumulates karma and learns new things along the way.
Loving someone can be a beautiful and fulfilling experience, but it can also be confusing at times. How do you know if what you’re feeling is genuine love? Here are some signs that might indicate you truly love someone.
You can confide in them and rely on them, but you don’t feel sexually attracted to them. Intimacy is the emotional connection you feel with someone, and it’s what makes you want to confide in them and share your life with them. The bonding hormone oxytocin drives intimacy, and you usually feel it after the passionate ‘honeymoon’ period has passed when you know each other on a deeper level.
When you love someone, you’re willing to put their needs above your own, even if it means making some sacrifices along the way. The more of a drug you take, the better you feel, and the more you want to take. Stenberg’s three components of love combine in the triangle to create seven different forms of love.
It means truly knowing them, supporting them and committing to them even when the relationship isn’t easy. Even if you checked off all the signs above, it may still be tough to really know and trust that you’re in love. According to Palmer, the biggest giveaway of being in love is when you perceive that your lover is fulfilling you in the ways that are most important to you. And if there is some area of the relationship where you aren’t satisfied, they’re open to making adjustments to help you feel fully supported and satisfied. Turns out, love can also have an impact on our mental and physical health. Loving relationships with healthy attachment can lower our risk of heart disease, depression, stress, and even diabetes.
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then there’s a good chance you’re in love. But even if you’re not sure, the most important thing is to follow your heart and let your emotions guide you. There are so many powerful feelings involved it can be hard to know whether you feel lust, infatuation, love, or something else entirely. This may seem like an extreme reaction, but it’s actually a very normal part of falling in love. It’s your brain’s way of telling you that this person is essential to your happiness and well-being. This connection allows you to empathize with them when they’re going through tough times.
You Put Their Needs Before Your Own
This could temper the feelings of euphoria and impulsivity that often accompany the first stages of love. Attraction and affection don’t stay the same, and love can feel different for each person. That said, you’ll need to make an effort to sustain love in your relationship over time. Is the question, how do you know if you’re in love, still giving you problems? Knowing whether you are falling in love with another person can be challenging, but you can tell are you in love with all the signs above.
One of the biggest indicators that you love someone is when you prioritize their well-being over your own. You find yourself constantly thinking about their happiness and making sacrifices to ensure they are taken care of.
If you’re curious about the average timeline, however, some research has found men typically take about three months to say “I love you,” while women take a bit longer, at about five months. If you’d like to learn more about love, check out our in-depth interview with Tara Vossenkemper, PhD, LPC. When you love someone, the thought of being without them is simply unbearable. The very idea of losing them makes your heartache and your stomach churn.
You Can’t Imagine Your Life Without Them
If the thought of losing that person terrifies you and leaves a void in your life, then you probably love them deeply. The idea of not having them by your side is unbearable, and you can’t imagine going through life without them.
You Accept Them Completely
When you love someone, you accept them for who they are – flaws and all. You don’t try to change them or mold them into someone else because you love them just the way they are. You appreciate their uniqueness and embrace it wholeheartedly.
You Feel Happy When They Are Happy
Their joy becomes your joy, and their pain becomes your pain. When you love someone, their emotions have a direct impact on your own. Their happiness fills your heart with warmth, and you can’t help but smile when they’re happy.
You Support Them Unconditionally
In times of success and failure, you are there for them, cheering them on or providing a shoulder to cry on. Your love is unwavering, and you stand by their side through thick and thin, no matter what challenges may come your way.
In conclusion, loving someone goes beyond just saying the words “I love you.” It’s about actions, feelings, and a deep emotional connection that binds two people together. If you exhibit these signs, then chances are you genuinely love that person. Trust your instincts and follow your heart.
