How to Know if It's Love
If you want to know if you're truly in love, go back to the basics of what love is, in the first place. Sometimes emotions masquerade as love, but they are something else entirely. The bad news is, no book, guide or council can help you decide who is right or wrong for you. But on the bright side, if you know yourself and are in tune with your emotions, you can figure out what love is, and isn't. Once you know that, you can make sound decisions for your future.
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Instructions
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1
Get serious about your relationship goals. Write down what you want from a loving relationship in a notebook dedicated to your love objectives. Get serious. Draw boundaries. Keep a detailed list of things that you feel are important to you. List your "wants" and "don't wants."
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2
If you can say "always" to someone, and mean it, that's a positive sign. Read what the Bible says about love. The scriptures overflow with wisdom and clarity about what love is, and give sound insight on love. In 1 Corinthians, it states, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." This scripture is a fabulous foundation for any relationship. If your relationship with someone honestly has all of those things, it probably is love.
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3
Use your journal as a guide. Sleep on it, or take a break from the person. The physical symptoms of "love," including butterflies in the stomach, weakness in the knees or lack of sleep, can also denote other emotions. When those symptoms begin, go back to Step 1 to mark off traits.
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Belonging to each other in the relationship is a necessary stage to committing to mutual love. Take ownership of the relationship, without fear. How did that statement make you feel? If you have someone specific in mind as you're reading, and felt edgy reading that, you aren't ready to take ownership of the relationship. That's a sign that it isn't love at this point---it either isn't love at all, or it needs more time to grow into love. When it is love, you both will want to take ownership of the relationship. If you both feel safe and comfortable in this phase without fear, that is a positive sign that it is love. 1 John 4:18 states, "There is no fear in love."
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5
"Love is as strong as death." (Song of Solomon 8:6) Look for the bond that you have with your partner. Ask her if she feels a bond with you. The bond is where it all ties together, and the other person completes you. That is where she will be the other half of your career, your home, your marriage, your life and your purpose. The bond being present is the brightest sign that it is love.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that it's not "who" you are looking for, as much as it is "what" you are seeking. You are looking for the signs of the right person for you, seeking those "love traits." If someone doesn't have those traits, move on. He doesn't have "love potential" for you.
References
- Photo Credit lovers image by TAlex from Fotolia.com Black notebook with pen image by Susanne Karlsson from Fotolia.com lover"s knot ring image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com man writing something in black book image by Ana de Sousa from Fotolia.com couple image by cherie from Fotolia.com blue romance image by chinatiger from Fotolia.com
