If you can’t think about starting a new chapter of your life, whether it’s a new job or a move to a new place, without your loved one at your side. If you’ve thought about having children but can’t imagine having kids with anyone other than your loved one. If you can’t imagine growing old without your loved one by your side.
If you read a book or see a movie without your loved one, you may wonder what they would think of it. If you’re trying on clothes without your special someone, you may think about how they would like your new look. If you call or text your loved one just because you want to say hi or hear their voice, then you may be falling in love.
If you take your loved one’s ideas into account when you’re making a big decision, then you take your partner seriously enough to be in love. If you’re in a difficult social situation and value your special someone’s opinion of what you should do, then you may be falling in love. If you care what your loved one thinks about the news, politics, art, or anything else that truly matters to you, then you may be falling in love.
If you want to read more, know more, care more, and just to be a more well-rounded person not just to please your loved one but because they really motivate you to want to change your life in a positive way, then you may be in love. If you want to work on addressing your flaws and developing your character just from being around your loved one, then you may be falling in love.
If you feel at your most handsome or beautiful when you’re around your loved one, even if you’re just rocking a casual look. If you feel like you’re at your smartest and sharpest when you’re talking something through with your partner. If you feel you’re most confident around your loved one, and never have to worry if you’re going to sound stupid when you begin to say something.
Being aware of your loved one’s flaws doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help them address them if that’s the right thing to do. If you can’t possibly think of two or three things that make your special someone less than perfect, then you may not be truly seeing the person for who they are. If you and your loved one are comfortable enough with each other to laugh about one another’s flaws, then you’re more likely to be really in love.
If you feel good about getting your special someone coffee or surprising them with a dessert from your favorite bakery without feeling like you’re wasting your precious time or money. If you enjoy teaching your loved one how to do something, whether it’s to make the perfect burger or to solve a complicated math problem.
If your special someone has the ability to make you crack up even when you’re in the worst of moods, then you may be falling in love. You are in love when you engage and share experiences by attempting to be playful, joking, and laughing at things together.
If you like just sitting around and watching your favorite TV show with your loved one. If you like stepping out to get ice cream with your loved one as much as you like enjoying a delicious fancy four-course meal together. If you enjoy a night in with your loved one as much as you like the occasional extravagant date.
If you were able to work through a tough problem in your relationship, whether it was trying to make it work with one of your insanely busy schedules or dealing with one person’s disappointment in a major life event, then your relationship should be stronger for it. If you were able to stay strong during the death of a loved one, then you’re more likely to feel truly in love.
If you’re willing to do something that you thought you would never do, such as learn a new language or learn to swim, because it’s really important for your loved one, then you’re more likely to be in love. If you’ve found yourself being more comfortable with being uncomfortable, with or without your loved one, then you may be in love.
If you’re in love, then you should not only be able to compromise with your loved one, but you should feel good about reaching a decision together, instead of feeling like you didn’t really get what you wanted. If you’re really in love, then both people should be able to compromise, instead of one person doing all the giving in every time.
Being comfortable hanging out with your friends without your special someone, and letting them do the same. Being okay with maintaining your own interests, such as yoga or soccer, even if your special someone doesn’t do them. Being happy having some alone time instead of always hanging out with your significant other.
If you can tell your partner exactly how you feel about something without worrying that you sound immature or stupid, then you may be falling in love. If you’re okay with cracking a joke, no matter how corny it may be, then you and your loved one are on the same page.
If you’re really in love, then you should be happy dissecting the latest episode of Breaking Bad with your loved one, or making small talk during a baseball game, and feeling that it’s enough. If you’ve gotten off the phone with your loved one after laughing the whole time and wondering, “What did we just talk about?” then you may be in love.
If you’re willing to open up and talk about your past mistakes or grievances, then you’re more likely to be in love. You don’t have to tell the person you love every last thing that has caused you pain, but you should be able to feel better after mentioning it. If you’re in love, you’ll accept each other, flaws and all.
If you’re always finding yourself pleasantly surprised by the seemingly endless good qualities that your loved one demonstrates, then you may be in love. If you often tell the special someone things you love about them — and really mean it — then you may be in love.
