Physical attraction is usually the first step in the falling in love process. But it’s not all the time that attraction escalates to love. Most of the time, it gets confusing. In this article, I will breakdown the differences between love and attraction.
Attraction: The natural feeling of being drawn to other individuals and desiring their company.
This feeling of attraction is usually based purely on the person’s physical attributes – the person’s smile, built, appearance, confidence, hair, eyes, intelligence… and the list goes on and on. You get attracted because you find what you see as desirable. You may find yourself daydreaming and swooning over that person and you’ll think that you are already in love. Then as you get to know the person, you start to see the ugly side. You’ll know that it’s just plain attraction if you get turned off when you discover the other person’s negative side and when you get thrown off once you see all the red flags.
Infatuation: The state of being carried away by an unreasoned passion or love. Usually, one is inspired with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone.
This is common among young relationships. I’m sure you’ve experienced puppy love and this is probably it. It’s when you get so caught up with your desires and you get completely lost with your emotions. In infatuation, you usually become irrational with your decisions. It usually happens so fast that it ends too soon at the same time.
Love: Unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.
Unlike attraction and infatuation, love is a feeling that is not based on what you see as attractive. It’s not even based on material and emotional gains. It’s when you’ve seen all the ugly parts of your partner but you stand firm in accepting all the flaws. It’s when you see the good in the person no matter what.
Love is a commitment and it’s when you are willing to make sacrifices for that person. Your partner’s feelings are valuable in every decision that you take. Last but not the least, love is unconditional.
