Love Verse Infatuation

Is it love or is it a crush? Love and Infatuation are both intense feelings that someone might feel for another person. These two emotional feelings are often confusing for many people. People in relationships often do not know what they are feeling; love or infatuation. The definition of love is a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness. The definition of infatuation is a foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction. There are several differences between love and infatuation, but even when you know the definition it is still hard to decipher. The first difference between love and infatuation is the time period. Love is not at first sight; it is an emotion that grows and matures gradually. Love is also a commitment to one another that is developed over time not given. We know that the love between a parent and a child; is completely different than the love between a couple. Love from a parent to a child is a fraternal instinct that is a given at birth and or it develops even faster while a mother is carrying her child. I have known many close friends that have been in relationships and they have all differed dramatically with time. There are also no set guidelines that tell people how long they must be together to fall in love, but when love is true it can be beautiful and everlasting. In addition to the timing of love; the effect love has are just as important. The effect of a loving relationship is contentment and stability. Stability is the foundation of every great relationship and through stability come security and peace. Most successful marriages have these specific qualities in common. Finally, the most important difference is the emotion of love. The emotion is the ability to be selfless, as well as, the willingness to make sacrifices for one another. Also working to settle differences is another key component. Both partners being able to compromise, so both sides can win or at least listen to the others opinion. The timing, effects, and emotion of love are all equally as important in building a long lasting, healthy, and stable relationship. The time period of infatuation is considered fast and furious. Infatuation ignites with a passionate spark but quickly fizzles out. Infatuation usually begins at the beginning stages of a relationship when sexual attraction is central; however, it is reckless and short lived. Infatuation can start with an impromptu glance or body gesture. Most often the words crush, craze, cupidity, puppy love, and obsession are mentioned when discussing infatuation. The effect of infatuation is considered by many experts in psychology “When someone is being controlled by the brain chemistry and not the heart.” People that are infatuated with someone often lose the ability to make rational decisions. Finding the truth is difficult for them when making evaluations. Usually one of the partners has to feel a strong physical desire to keep the attraction to the other. In the height of the infatuation someone will do whatever they can to be close to the other at all cost. People will go completely out of their way to help the other party, yet the underlying agenda is for their own personal satisfaction. Similarly, the emotion of infatuation is like a roller coaster ride. Infatuation leaves us empty and a feeling of anxiety. This usually happens because of consequences made from lust or euphoria. These emotional feelings are likely caused by a reckless commitment to satisfy one’s own lust. Is it love or is it a crush? There is much confusion when talking about love or infatuation. However, when these two emotional states are compared closely, they are fundamentally different. They differ in various ways such as time period, the effects, and state of emotion. Building a great relationship takes time, commitment, and the ability to be selfless. Building a fling takes a red bull and a cheesy pickup line. Weather, it be a lasting relationship or a hot fling; knowing the difference could decide success or failure.