Love vs In Love: Is There A Difference At All?

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Is there really a difference between love vs in love? Let’s dive deep into the major differences and similarities between these two.

What’s the difference love and in love?

Love is like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. It’s comfortable and familiar, and it makes you feel good all over. But being in love is like taking a Polar plunge into an icy lake. It’s exhilarating and exciting, and it’ll leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Lol! If that’s not enough to explain the difference between love vs in love, here are some other ways to help you understand the difference 🙂

Love is a more generalized feeling than ‘in love’

Love is a more generalized feeling than being in love. You can love your dog, your blanket, your family. But being in love is different. It’s like… being hit by a truck. It’s all-consuming

For example, when we say that we love our dogs, we are referring to the affectionate bond that we share with them. We enjoy their company and they make us feel good.

On the other hand, when we say that we are in love with someone, we are referring to the intense emotions that we feel towards them. We may also be referring to the physical attraction that we feel towards them.

Love can exist without excitement

Samantha Moss from Romantific says:

Being in love is based on feelings, a whirlwind of emotions, and unexplainable butterflies in your stomach. But love, loving someone doesn’t require that kind of feeling. Love could exist even if you don’t feel any excitement. Love exists for family, and friends, and not just for a special someone, which defines being in love.

The thought of loving special someone and being in love with that person, the difference is being in love is wanting them, but love, it allows you to do everything that’s best for them.

Being in love is an emotional rollercoaster

To put it simply, when you’re “in love” with someone, you’re experiencing the emotional high of romantic attraction towards your idealized version of them. It’s an emotional rollercoaster with highs that can have you feeling unstoppable, and lows that can result in the sense of love disappearing altogether.

However, when you “love” someone, you’re grounded in the reality of who they are, aware and appreciative of both their strengths and weaknesses. It’s a deeper connection in which the focus becomes less on your own walk on cloud 9 as you want them, and more on the other’s well-being, emotional state, and best interests.

Butterflies vs. compromise

Nancy Landrum, MA, Author, Relationship Coach for www.RelationshipRehabCoach.com says:

“In love” is usually at the beginning of a romantic relationship. It’s characterized by butterflies in the stomach, an obsession with spending as much time as possible with that person, floating in a haze of romantic and physical attraction.

The world looks beautiful and anything is possible. There are dreams of “happily ever after” supported by the confidence that “We will make it. We will not make the same mistakes everyone else makes. Our love will last forever.” Being “in love” is enough to get a relationship off of the ground, but those feelings and energies rarely last more than a few months.

Real “love” that is lasting includes strong pillars of commitment and a willingness to put effort into sustaining “love” by respectful communication and conflict management skills with sacrifice and compromise, when necessary, for the benefit of the relationship long-term.

Being in love is Dopamine, love is Oxytocin

Ryan C. Warner, clinical psychologist says,

The chemical processes of being in love vs loving someone romantically are different. Being in love is based on attraction and lust, a release of dopamine and serotonin, which makes you feel euphoric. When it comes to love, the body releases oxytocin and Vasopressin, hormones that make you feel bonded and attached to the other person.

Being in love usually refers to the first stages of a romantic relationship. It’s chemistry, infatuation, and it’s only temporary. However, it lays the groundwork for long-term love. That’s why, if you stay with your partner, being in love eventually gives way to a deeper form of love.

Love is accepting

Love is like a fine wine. It’s complex, it’s nuanced, and it takes time to develop. When you first start dating someone, you might be infatuated with them. You might think they’re the most gorgeous person you’ve ever seen or that they’re the funniest person alive.

But as time goes on, you start to see their flaws and realize that they’re not perfect. That’s when love starts to develop. Love is about seeing someone for who they really are and accepting them, flaws and all. It’s about being with someone through the good times and the bad times.

So, if you’re wondering whether you’re in love or just infatuated (in love) with someone, ask yourself how well you know them. Have you been with them through thick and thin? Do you accept them for who they are?

Being in love can be intense

When you’re in love, you often feel consumed by your emotions. You might find yourself thinking about the other person all the time, and you might feel unable to control how you feel. In contrast, simply feeling love doesn’t necessarily take over your life in the same way. You might still feel strongly affectionate towards someone without feeling like you can’t live without them.

For example, you can love your dog without feeling like you’d pass out if he/she doesn’t say ‘I love you’ back. But if you’re in love with your boyfriend and he rejects you, then it could definitely break your heart.

So what’s the difference between love and being in love? Ultimately, it comes down to intensity. Love is a strong emotion, but being in love is often described as an all-consuming passion.

How can you tell you’re in love?

Love is a strange and wonderful thing. It can make you feel happy and sad, excited and nervous, all at the same time. And sometimes it can be hard to tell if you’re really in love, or if you’re just infatuated with the idea of being in love. So how can you tell if you’re truly head-over-heels? Here are a few signs that you may be in love:

Daydreaming about what life would be like if you were together.
You catch yourself smiling for no reason when you think about the person you love.
You start dressing differently or paying more attention to your appearance in an effort to impress your loved one.
Getting tongue-tied or nervous around the person you love, as if you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing.
You start making excuses to spend time with the person you love, even if it means giving up other activities that you enjoy.
Feeling elated when things are going well between the two of you and crushed when there’s a disagreement.
You feel like you’ve known them forever, even if you’ve only just met.

Can you love someone and not be in love?

Can you love someone and not be in love with them? Absolutely! I’m not sure if I could survive without my family and friends. I love them all, but I’m not in love with any of them (thank goodness!).

So, if you’re thinking about whether it’s possible to love someone but not be in love with them, the answer is yes! Just think about all the people in your life that you care about deeply, but wouldn’t want to date.

Like and love? What’s the difference?

We all know that feeling. You like someone. They’re attractive, charming, and you can’t help but be drawn to them. But is it love? Or is it just a passing fancy? It’s tough to tell the difference between love vs in love, but there are a few key things to keep in mind.

For one, love is usually more than just physical attraction. Sure, you may be drawn to someone’s looks at first, but love is about so much more. It’s about an emotional connection, a shared sense of understanding, and intimacy.

And while you may like someone for their sense of humor or their intelligence, love is about seeing the person for who they really are– flaws and all.

So when it comes down to it, love is about accepting someone for who they are and wanting to be with them no matter what.

I love you vs I am in love with you

I think there’s a slight difference between “I love you” and “I am in love with you.”

Usually, “I love you” can be said to anyone – your parents, your best friend, and even your cat.

Saying “I’m in love with you”, on the other hand, means that you’re deeply and madly in love with that person, to the point where they consume your thoughts and emotions. It’s a super intense and intoxicating feeling that’s unlike anything else!

Love is one hell of a drug

Being in love is an amazing feeling. You’re on top of the world, and nothing can bring you down. But, as amazing as it is, don’t forget to use your brain, lol! Remember to think about things like whether or not this person is really good for you, if they’re worth your time and energy, and if they’re going to make you happy in the long run.

xoxo

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Love vs In Love: Is There A Difference At All?

What’s the difference love and in love?