Love is a feeling that’s often difficult to pin down, but there are a few things you can look for to know if it’s truly true. The best way to find out is to spend time with your partner and listen for the signs that they’re really into you.
When you’re in love, your relationship takes on a whole new meaning. It’s not just a relationship you have with your significant other, but one that encompasses all of your friends and family. You want to be around them always, and you feel like you can’t live without them.
Biological models of love see it as a mammalian drive, similar to hunger or thirst, that can be stimulated by certain hormones and neurotrophins. Affectionate behaviors, such as holding hands, hugging and sex, release these hormones and increase oxytocin, the “love hormone.”
You’re in love when you find yourself pondering your future together more often than usual. You might be rereading text messages or looking at their pictures over and over again, as you imagine the kind of life you can have together.
This isn’t a sign that you’re going to get married, but it does indicate that your relationship is moving in the right direction. You’re thinking about what you want out of the relationship, and are ready to put in the work and effort it takes to make it happen.
When you’re in love, you care about your partner unconditionally and without strings attached. That’s a hallmark of true love and something that you can’t afford to ignore in your relationship.
Affectionate behavior releases oxytocin, which is responsible for bonding and reducing pain. It also promotes happiness and makes you feel reassured that someone is there for you.
It’s important to note that oxytocin isn’t the only hormone in play when you’re in love; other hormones, such as serotonin and dopamine, are a part of the process too.
You’re in love when your partner is willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy. They’re constantly thinking of ways they can help you or make you laugh, and they often sacrifice their own needs to ensure that you are happy in the relationship.
Getting in love isn’t easy, but it can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. Ultimately, you’re searching for the person who is truly right for you and will be there with you through good times and bad.
If you haven’t yet said those three little words, it’s a good idea to start now. The sooner you do, the better off your relationship will be.
Once you’ve proclaimed your feelings to the world, though, it’s important to think about how your declaration may impact your partner. According to therapist Manly, “The three words are very powerful and can be interpreted in different ways. They can either bring a person closer or scare them away,” she says.
For some people, the moment they say those three little words is a rite of passage into deeper intimacy, a milestone that marks the beginning of their love journey. For others, however, it can be a source of fear and anxiety.
