How to Know when You Love Him or Her

Love is a word that that can be tossed around a lot. You love your family and some of your close friends. Here's when you know you really love someone.

Steps

1. Think about what you want in a relationship. Write down your thoughts and feelings on what you think love is. This list is only for you. Don't write down what anybody else thinks about love other than yourself.
2. Make sure you know the difference between love and lust or infatuation. Lust is a sexual desire. Infatuation is when you are "crazy" about them, but this feeling usually fades over time. If you have only been with this person for a short while, really think about if you are moving too fast or its only puppy love.
3. Write down your feeling for them. How do you feel when you're talking to them? How do you feel when you haven't seen them for a week? How do you feel when you are making love? Express as much as you can through words.
4. Think about the communication between the two of you. Is it cut down to a minimum? How do you deal with conflict? Do you bring out good or bad parts of each other? Can you show different sides of yourself? Do you lie to your partner on a basis?
5. Ask yourself if you see and accept them as a whole person. Love isn't just loving the parts of them you like, but choosing to love them overall. If you cannot deal with them having imperfections, then maybe your relationship isn't as strong as you thought.
6. Ask yourself if you would do just about, if not, anything for her. Would you risk everything you have just to be with her? Is it worth it?

Tips

• Take your time; love isn't something that's cool to say or a word that you should throw around. There is a lot of meaning behind it so make sure you take your time and really know that you love the person when you say it.
• Realize that there's a difference between "loving someone" and "being in love." You can love family, friends, etc. Being in love is similar, and sometimes based off the first kind, but is usually deeper and more intimate.
• When speaking to family, make sure you let them know you love them. They will appreciate it.
• When speaking to your other half, let them know that you love them by showing occasional acts of kindness, and following the steps above. When you feel the time is perfect to say it, come out and hope for a good response, be sure to say it with feeling. (no, not fake feeling either.)

Warnings

• Don't say "I love you" on your first date. The date may not appreciate it and you could be digging yourself a hole.
• Repetitive use of the word love could lose its meaning so pick good times when to use it. The person may not take you seriously if you say it too often, and it could easily get very annoying quickly. Note the word 'could', chances are it can`t be said enough.
• If you don't say it on a daily basis then the person could think you 'don't' love them. It's never annoying to hear 'I love you' even if it's said on the way out the door. It's something you get used to very quickly and maybe even taken for granted. But you know the old saying. You never know what you have until it's gone. Put a smile on the face of the person you love and tell them.
• When people stop saying 'I love you' that's when a relationship starts to die.