Falling in love often takes us by surprise, but the truth is that the process of falling in love begins long before we realize it. Whether it’s love at first sight or the first conversation where two people really connect, falling in love is about the way two souls interact with each other and can happen at any point in time.
10 Ways We Fall in Love
It often seems as though certain milestones in a relationship dictate when we fall in love, but this isn’t exactly the case. We often start falling in love long before the rest of our bodies and minds notice it. Curious if you’re already falling for someone? Read on to learn ten ways we fall in love.
1. It’s More Than Friendship
Love has a funny way of creeping in when we least expect it to. We’ve all experienced a similar sensation when we sense that there are stronger feelings than mere friendships with people. Whether it’s the sparks felt when two potential lovers meet for the first time or it’s the moment that two friends know there’s something more powerful at play, this electric feeling is the first sign that someone may be falling in love.
Though most of us don’t call this exciting feeling love when they first feel it, there’s a reason people have referred to this familiar feeling of giddiness as puppy love. Though these feelings can start off slowly, they generally grow in intensity as we enter into various stages of falling in love.
2. They Start to Take Over Your Thoughts
There’s a reason that when you’re crushing on someone they’re all you can think about. As thoughts of someone else start to take over your mind, this is a clear sign that infatuation has begun. While infatuation doesn’t always mean you’re in love, it is one stop on the road to falling in love.
Have you been thinking about your crush so much that you started daydreaming about them? If you’re experiencing this behavior, it’s a sign that they’re taking over your thoughts because you want them to have a more prominent role in your life.
Since we give value to what we think about, the person that is at the center of your daydreaming is someone that means quite a lot to you. While this is just the beginning of falling in love, this is a clear sign that the ball has started rolling.
3. You Begin to Idolize Them
Idolization is a strange phenomenon, but it is another way people fall in love. When you catch yourself being enchanted by everything your partner does, this another sign that you’re falling for them.
When we start to become smitten by someone, we tend to view everything they do as hopelessly adorable, exciting, and endearing. Whether it’s the way they eat or how they talk, falling for someone involves you analyzing all their habits and seeing the beauty in them.
At this stage, your fondness for them will grow as you get to know more and more about the person you’re falling for.
4. You Become Insecure Around Them
Awkwardness and insecurity are often another uncomfortable part of the falling in love process. When we seriously are into someone and consider giving them our all, it’s not uncommon to begin to worry whether or not they will feel the same way about us.
While most people would rather not admit it, thoughts of “Am I good enough?” often cross through their minds as they fall in love. Even with someone that is particularly confident, thinking about starting a love relationship with another person they are falling for can be nerve-wracking.
At this stage, it’s easy to start obsessing over every little detail about yourself and fear that one wrong move may drive them away. Thankfully, this stage of falling in love is mostly in our heads. While our intensifying feelings amplify the way we analyze our actions, it’s likely that the other person is just as smitten by us.
5. Intimacy Begins to Grow Between You Both
While many tend to think of intimacy as intercourse, it means much more than this. Intimacy involves becoming comfortable with someone in every sense of the word.
From being able to be physically close with another person to truly baring your soul to them, as you continue your freefall in love, you both will become closer and closer.
This intimacy building is one of the most important aspects of falling in love. This point is the moment when both of you are open and honest about who you truly are behind the masks.
6. Life Becomes Exhilarating in Every Way
Just as you become obsessively excited about your love interests’ behaviors, habits, and interests, you’ll start to become overwhelmingly excited with the rest of your world.
When in love, you’ll notice that everything feels incredible. From the blue of the sky to the warmth of the sun, falling in love feels like you’ve only just begun to realize what it means to be alive.
At this point in the process of falling in love, your partner can do no wrong and life is the most beautiful it’s ever been. While this level of giddiness won’t last forever, it is quite refreshing to feel it as we dive into the depths of falling in love.
7. Emotions Become Overwhelming
While many of the feelings that we experience as we fall in love are quite positive and enjoyable, there are a few other uncomfortable emotions that are unavoidable. One such feeling is the inevitable freakout.
When our intensely positive feelings start to overtake us, it’s easy to feel incredibly overwhelmed. At this point, it’s common to start asking questions like “Where is this going? What if this doesn’t work? How do I know this is right?”
While these types of questions are valid, at the moment they can send you in a tailspin that translates your previous giddiness to incredible vulnerability. These feelings stem from how our burgeoning love makes us feel more vulnerable and scared than we’re accustomed to.
Admittedly, while these feelings are uncomfortable to experience, they are one more way we know we’re falling in love. If you are able to push through these intense discomforting feelings, you’ll be able to enjoy the loving relationship that’s on the other side.
8. Jealousy Starts to Affect You
With the eventual freak out comes feelings of possessiveness and jealousy.
These unfortunate feelings indicate that you are really interested in a certain someone. Furthermore, you want to make sure they feel the same way.
While you may be just at the start of your burgeoning relationship, these possessive feelings show you that you do want to figure out how to make sure the two of you stay together.
At this point, it’s common to feel a fear of being rejected by your love interest as you realize your very real feelings for them may not be returned.
Don’t be alarmed if you start searching through your loved one’s social media accounts and squinting across their shoulder to see their newest text messages. While you may not like feeling this way, this is another way in which we fall in love.
The best way to get through these feelings is to talk them out. Ask where they are when it comes to their love life, how they feel, and what they want.
9. You Want to Decide Whether to Commit
When we fall for someone, there comes the point in time where we have to decide whether to go all in or move on. By the time you’ve reached the “What is this?” stage, you’ll likely be well aware of how you feel and ready to address how the other individual feels.
At this point of falling in love, it’s important to be authentic and honest. Tell them how you feel, what you’re thinking, and whether or not you’re ready to take things to the next level.
Though this particular point in the process of falling in love can feel incredibly nerve-wracking it’s the only way to move forward.
10. Both People Recognize Their Feelings
Though falling in love is a constantly ongoing process, there comes a time when both people must decide what will happen. While you may be well on your way to falling in love, this is the point where the fate of the potential relationship is decided upon.
Will you both stay together or will you go your separate ways?
If the love between the two of you is true, you both will find your way of being with each other.
Put in the work on a daily basis to keep the love alive.
Final Thoughts on How We Fall in Love
Love is one of the most important emotions in the world. Whether you’ve found your soulmate or are just learning to open up to the concept of falling in love, keep this information in mind.
The way we interact with one another is ultimately what determines how, when, and why we fall in love. Let this guide inspire you as you learn to recognize the signs of love in your life and in others.
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