How do you know when you love or like someone?

Answer 1

Obviously it's easy to like someone and to feel a sexual attraction to them. Many people confuse their lust and infatuation (usually occurs during the first months of a relationship) with love. You idealize the person for awhile because you're not seeing their less than great qualities. In short, you haven't known them long enough to take full measure of the person they are in all aspects. It's all too easy to emotionally fixate on certain aspects of a person--their looks, their charm--and try to ignore their abuse, their cheating or irresponsibility. Love isn't the excitement or arousal, the rush you feel at the thought of someone. Love may occur many months or years after you've known them, when you accept who they are, great and a few poor qualities, and you place their welfare and happiness above your own needs. You treat them as you would want to be treated--no abuse, no manipulation. You respect them, trust them, and value them as your best friend and time apart or distance doesn't change the way you feel. Your loving them does not mean you demand them to love you in return or that either of your feelings many not alter in the future.