Let's face it: love can be tricky. Getting caught between love and infatuation can be hard waters to navigate. Lucky for you, there are some pretty accurate telltale signs if you are indeed in love.
1. They are all you think about.
Okay, I know it sounds cliche, but it is SO true! The more interested you are in someone, the more they are on your mind. You are constantly focused on what they're doing, the next time you will see them, or how they are feeling. Good or bad, you cannot seem to get them out of your head.
2. You root for them and their happiness.
If you view their happiness as your happiness, you just might be in trouble. As you begin to develop deep, strong feelings for this person, you tend to group each other's happiness as one entity. Their goals, dreams, and aspirations seem to create their own space in your brain. For example, you desperately want them to get a raise at work or do well in sports and other hobbies they partake in. You become their biggest fan. In the same sense, you also feel their pain and sadness during times of distress.
3. You care about your relationship with their friends and family.
If you are in love, their people become your people, good or bad. You begin to buy them birthday and Christmas presents and you pick up on their body language and social cues. If your significant other's family and friends are important to them, they are immediately important to you. You want to be apart of family gatherings, events, and dinners to better understand your partner and the people that made them who they are today.
4. You're making plans and they are involved.
Saying they are "involved" would be the understatement of the century if you are in love. You can't help making plans with them, whether it be as simple as dinner in a few days or vacation this summer. Unconsciously, you want your significant other involved in your life as much as possible if you're in love. You want them to see things and places that you love because they have become a part of you.
5. They are your best friend, as well as your romantic partner.
Though you do not have to start out this way, becoming great friends just comes with getting close and being involved in your relationship together. I have been with my current boyfriend for roughly a year and a half now. We started out as strangers, got to know each other, then began building a relationship together. He is the first person I call when I am bored, want to go out, or just have a night in with movies and food. He is my go-to person, the person I want to spend time with more than anyone else.
6. They are the first person you want to tell when something good happens.
You just got a big promotion at work! Who are you running to tell? This is a key sign of your love and affection towards another person. If you are in love, this person will not only be at the top of the list, he/she will also show major amounts of happiness and support for you. Their success is your success, right?
7. The future doesn't seem uncertain or frightening.
In fact, you almost crave the future. You are beginning or continuing your life with the person you love most. The future does not scare you because, with your partner by your side, nothing seems too much for you to handle. You can't help but be excited for the next chapter of your life with this person, whether that means kids, buying a home, or just starting your lives together.