In a world filled with movies like Bridget Jones and Sex and the City, romantic love is often seen as the Holy Grail. We watch women and men whose lives seem to revolve around falling in love, falling out of love and back in again. In truth this is not the case for most of us; there are many different types of love which are all deeply meaningful, and equally as important as romantic love. But this does present a problem – how do we know romantic love from the love we feel through friendship?

Romantic love means different things to different people. For most there is a strong element of physical attraction involved. The lust element of love is a defining factor for most people in their quest for romantic love. Many find that once the lust element of their relationship fades they begin to feel just a friendship with their partner/spouse. Often by this time it is too late, and people may settle for companionship with their partner rather than having true romantic love.

Have you ever heard of a ‘spark’? Having a spark with someone may be the defining factor for romantic love. Do you feel a tingle when you’re with that person? Do they excite you and entertain you? Most importantly, do they make you happy? Obviously, the initial rush of romantic love doesn’t always last, but it is something which should be there initially.

Because falling and being in love is such an individual thing, it is impossible to give a totally accurate picture of what true love is. However, it should include at least some of the elements I have mentioned.

So how do you know if you have experience true romantic love? You may hear people say they ‘just knew’ when they met the person they fell in love with; but for others it takes time to fall in love. For some it is a gradual process, sometimes known as a ‘slow burner’, or it may be the quintessential ‘love at first sight’. If you didn’t fall head over heels for your partner the first time you laid eyes on each other, that doesn’t mean that you aren’t in love. Getting to know one another first and giving a relationship time to blossom can ultimately mean a deeper love than if you fall head over heels without knowing much about each other.

If you have, or had someone in your life who made you feel good about yourself, who made you happy and who made you feel excited the chances are you were or are in love with that person. And just because it ended doesn’t mean that it wasn’t love. To quote the great Edna St. Vincent Millay:

St. Vincent Millay:

‘After all my erstwhile dear,

My no longer cherished;

Need we say it was not love,

Just because it perished?’

Love is not necessarily a permanent thing; but it has the ability to change us is ways that we never thought possible. If the object of your affections excites strong, positive emotions in you, then the chances are that romantic love is knocking on your door.

Author Bio: Christine Crotts is looking forward to that special day with her one and only. Christine has written a site containing reviews on engraved wedding bands, as well as engraved gold wedding bands.

Category: Relationships
Keywords: romantic love,true romantic love,true romantic