After having a number of comparable experiences - how can one truly know that they are in love?

Answer 1

Being in love is a momentary form of madness. It's when you pass this stage and you find you still love this person deeply that you know this person is important to you. I've fallen in love many times, but there's only one person I'd like to spend the rest of my life with.

Answer 2

The answer to this question will depend on who you are. If you have had a number of comparable experiences, one will know whether they can be truly in love or not.

Love is an illusion in the same way that business is an illusion. When you have seen through the illusion several times, you know it is an illusion.

If you are still blinded by the illusion, then you will probably think you can be truly in love again. If you are no longer blind, and you have perfect vision, you can see exactly what you thought love was and you can therefore see where your interpretation was incorrect.

Having said that, I am always amazed how life can take you by surprise. I'm sure it exists if someone believes in it strongly enough. Such a strong belief, can convince a non-believer if they demonstrate it and are consistent.

I think it is the same in business. Just because you have come across some real dogs dressed up as mutton, does not mean that there are not some real angels dressed up as angels.

Answer 3

How would you define love? We all seem to have different definitions!
You already have some interesting answers but it is only you that can make the decision.
There is a difference between 'love' and 'infatuation.'
You are telling us that you have had a number of 'comparable experiences.' I assume that they failed and that you have someone else now, so ask yourself what the difference is this time.
There is a pretty old saying that says 'A friend is someone that knows all about you and likes you anyway.'
In love, that goes for a start - but afterwards, they are the one that you can tell everything to and they can tell you everything, too, and you know that it won't affect how you feel for each other.
Oh, and forget the 'instant' thing. I grew to love my first husband over a time - but my second husband I fell in love with instantly.
When that special moment arrives, you should know it. If you can't tell it now, then it ain't the 'real thing.'

Answer 4

If you ask yourself if you are truly in love, this is because you are not in love. When you are in love you know it, you are sure, there is no question about it, even if the loved one is not the right person. But to be in love happens very rarely in a life time if not at all. It falls on you when you expect it the least. You might not see it and miss it if you don't keep your eyes open. I think love is not affection and it is not sex either. It is just love and you know it...

Answer 5

I think the idea of being truly in love is a strange creation of our society.

Basically science has shown that we have a hormone that is released upon meeting someone decent. That hormone usually returns to normal levels after one year. That hormone is responsible for the "in love" feeling.

Since this hormone returns to normal levels, the "in love" feeling is of little value. And nothing that is permanent should be decided during this time period since the humans involved are in a temporary state. You are not dealing with the person you would be dealing with for many years and that person is not dealing with the real you.

What is important is the capacity of the couple to actually love each other as opposed to being "in love." I highly doubt that this capacity can be examined during the year that the "in love" hormone is activated. The divorce rate in the U.S. has been about 50%. Perhaps this is due to the fact that everyone can be "in love" but few can actually love which requires insight, generosity, a sense of reality, common goals, ability to develop a healthy attachment etc.

Answer 6

Love has a way of letting you know when you have finally found it. You just have to find it to find out what that is. Unfortunately i haven't and i am also a hopeless romantic who thinks that only when the kiss makes me lift me foot like they do in the movies, will i have truly found love!

Answer 7

If you can stop wondering about it and just enjoy the person, the moment, the joy. You were truly in love every other time too. The trick is trying to be logical about that one special person now. Impossible? You're in love.

Answer 8

I hope to God I'm right about this, but when you fall in love, when its that one special person that you will spend your life with, all of those other comparable experiences will fade into insignificance.

If I'm wrong, I might have already missed it, or its not all its cracked up to be.

Answer 9

I think you know that you love someone when you realize that you cannot live without them. If you woke up tomorrow, and they were gone, would you be over the relationship in a year (for example, or for any period of time)? Or would you remember the person for the rest of your life, wishing you had spent more time with them?

Answer 10

You just know. You want the best always for that person; you willingly put them first (before yourself); you know and accept their worst faults but still want to be with them; you want to spend the rest of your life with them; you want always to find the strength to work through the hard stuff you go through, even when it's painful; you'd willingly die for them; you'd sacrifice anything for them...But when you don't FEEL in love with them, you choose to do all that you can to 'get it back' - whatever that may mean.