[FeelingHopeful]

Hey Everyone, Just wondering what does love feel like, being in love. Never been and im kinda wondering if i am now so was hoping people could tell me how you know your in love??

[perpetuallysad]

Hm, this is a hard thing to describe. I guess when you know you don't want to live without someone, when the thought of not having them in your life makes your heart ache, when you get all fluttery when they smile at you or say something sweet, when you spend all your time daydreaming about them, when you don't want to go more than a day or two without seeing them, when they make you mad (this is a big sign, if you care enough for them to make you mad, well...), when you forget their faults (even though they are obvious, we all have faults), when you are willing to overlook their faults (even though they bug the **** out of you), when you look at your life in 20 years and imagine them there too, when you start considering them in all that you do, when you hear something funny or sad or important and they are the first one you want to tell...I could go on and on.

[lynn P.]

I agree this is a hard emotion to describe. Sometimes love can be confused with infactuation and just a physical attraction. This is why some people lose interest once the fireworks calms down. I think you know it's love when that passionate stage calms down, but you stilling genuinely enjoy that person and can't imagine being with anyone else.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by FeelingSad

Hey Everyone, Just wondering what does love feel like, being in love. Never been and im kinda wondering if i am now so was hoping people could tell me how you know your in love??

wanting whats best for that person, feeling like you cant live without them in your life, feeling happy when you are around them. Enjoy spending time with them.Trusting that person with all your heart. Sometimes when you first fall in love your heart will thump when you see or hear that person or are near that person, Some people have a sexual/sensual reaction in their bodies just from being near or thinking about that person.

[Pomegranate]

I agree with what Lynn said 100%. There is a difference between lust and love. I think most couples start out in lust with each other, then go into lust and liking each other, then comes love.

[Perna]

For me, Love is really comfortable. I'm not afraid I'll be criticized (even when I criticize myself in my head I'm always surprised he never criticizes me) and I love doing things for my husband, creating little surprises for him. I went to the grocery store alone yesterday morning and when I got back I told him I'd brought him surprises; the first one I gave him was rock salt :-) for if it snows bad again. He enjoys my way of looking at things and I enjoy his enjoyment. We let each other be ourselves and value the other person. I still remember when I had to make a major financial decision myself one afternoon (buy a used car at a gas station) and was able to do it because I heard him in my head, "We're on the same team! I trust your judgment!" If he trusts my judgment, who am I not to? LOL.

[Rhapsody]

When you are in love you will not have to ask.

[A_Long_ways]

Rhapsody pretty much hit the nail on the head. I think everyone experiences love in a different way, so it's pretty hard to describe. For me, it was knowing I had someone at the end of the day. Someone I was comfortable with, someone I could look in the eyes and not want to turn my head away. Someone that knew my past and still saw the good in me. Someone I was so fiercely loyal to and protective of that I would sacrifice my own happiness for hers. Someone who was always there to say "I believe in you", and actually meant it. I just made myself sad heh.

[perpetuallysad]

Awww. (((A Long Ways)))

Everyone will find love. (at least I really hope so)

[MickG]

Joseph Campbell said it best...

“Love itself is a pain, you might say-that is, the pain of being truly alive.”

[Hearty]

There are many different forms and levels of love. And I think it's different for everyone; depending on one's capacity, history, nature/nurture, etc. It's a complex feeling that can't be quantitatively measured or qualitatively analyzed, but you know it when you're in it.

I agree with what everyone has said. Though in my case, there's the warm friendship love, unconditional parental/child love, sensual heart-pounding love, etc...and there were times when I've felt all forms of love with the same person I was "in love" with at different stages of our relationship...mostly ending in "falling out of love".

The sensual "I want to be with you forever" kind of love has given me the most all consuming and incredible feelings when it was returned, but it was quite the opposite with the painful unrequited love...ouch...

What I have learned is the most rewarding and true form of love is experienced with others when one has self-love and self-acceptance...this is something I'm having to learn and relearn in life and therapy. Sigh...but I haven't given up yet!

Good luck, and I wish you much "joyful" love in your life!

[FeelingHopeful]

Wow!! You Guys are Great! Somany Different yet inspiring answers,Gave me alot to think about!! Imstill confused , But kinda leaning towards I think i might be,AHH! Its a diff feeling than i had before, wow,I got some more thinking to do.

[elliemay]

Wow, what does love feel like? Great question, especially for those of us who may not exactly know, you know?

I've definately fallen in love several times (romantic love). It's a suffusion of feeling, like ink in water as the other person gets inculcated into my life and heart. At first it's very concentrated and localized emotion of warmth, excitement and anticipation. For me it's rather like a thrall of hope.

It diffuses over time, equillibrates and becomes very comfortable and safe. Even when (or if) it doesn't work out, I'm forever tinged (usually in a good way) by my experience with that person.

Now, non-romantic love is quite different, although the two can blend and merge. For me, the non-romantic love is so eminently favorable. It's not ravaged by emotion, but rather based on a solid foundation of shared experience, mutual respect, and fairness. It's a feeling of being known and witnessed by another.

Love of a completely different color is the love I feel for the children in my life. I've never felt anything like it. It's protective and patient. Full of wonder as I watch these little people emerge from the clay. How I can feel so much and absolutely positively want nothing in return just astounds me. It's profound and humbling. It's completely selfless.

[Hearty]

Originally Posted by elliemay

.....I've definately fallen in love several times (romantic love). It's a suffusion of feeling, like ink in water as the other person gets inculcated into my life and heart. At first it's very concentrated and localized emotion of warmth, excitement and anticipation. For me it's rather like a thrall of hope.

It diffuses over time, equillibrates and becomes very comfortable and safe. Even when (or if) it doesn't work out, I'm forever tinged (usually in a good way) by my experience with that person.....

Really beautiful words! I love your description of "Romantic Love", and it's spot-on for me, elliemay. Thank you for articulating it so beautifully...I hope you don't mind me writing it in my journal to share with my T.