It can be difficult to tell the difference between love and lust. But understanding how the two differ can help you navigate relationships with clarity and ease.
While lust is usually about physical and sexual attraction, love involves feelings of deep emotional attachment and lasting commitment. Here are a few ways to differentiate between the two and get a clearer understanding of what you’re feeling.
Physical Attraction
The difference between lust and love is subtle, but there are plenty of characteristics that help to distinguish the two. According to Rutgers University researcher Helen Fisher, lust is an “intense sexual desire that doesn’t depend on feelings of tenderness or attachment.”
It’s the basic craving for physical touch, sexual stimulation, and a sense of pleasure that sets it apart from romantic love.
Scientists believe that lust stems from our evolutionary need to reproduce, which is why it’s so common among mammals and birds.
But love, on the other hand, feels like a deep sense of comfort and security in a relationship that goes beyond the physical. It also includes a sense of belonging and commitment.
The key to figuring out which of these feelings you’re experiencing for someone is to become more self-aware. Knowing what you like and dislike can make you more confident in your relationships and help you to identify which types of people you’re truly compatible with.
Emotional Attraction
While they often have a similar name, lust and love aren’t necessarily the same thing. While lust is a strong, intense feeling that can lead to sexual satisfaction, love is more about emotional intimacy.
When you’re in love, you’re deeply connected to the person. Their personality, quirks, and values matter to you.
You’re also drawn to their warmth, kindness, and confidence. They make you feel like a special person.
It’s hard to put a finger on it, but you get butterflies in your stomach when you think about them. You can’t stop talking about them or wanting to meet up with them again.
Emotional attraction is a deep connection that develops over time as you communicate and reveal authentic parts of yourself. It’s what makes a relationship lasting, long-term, and meaningful.
Communication
The communication that exists between lust and love is one of the most important factors in any relationship. This can be especially true for relationships that involve a sexual component.
Lust is often defined as a hormonal craving for sexual gratification. This is driven by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that stimulates the release of hormones like testosterone and estrogen.
On the other hand, love involves a deep emotional connection and lasting commitment to a person. It also includes feelings of arousal, physical affection and sexual passion.
Both lust and love can be present in a relationship, but love is usually more intense and lasts longer. This is because lust requires constant stimulation in order to keep you interested.
Commitment
Lust is focused on immediate gratification, but love develops trust and commitment over time. It develops the desire to plan for your future together and learn more about your partner.
A committed person has self-discipline, resilience and persistence. They also know how to overcome obstacles and hurdle difficulties to achieve their goals.
They’re disciplined and motivated because they believe in their ideas and dreams, and they don’t give up. Commitment is a great way to build structure into your life and achieve your goals.
It can also help you focus on your tasks and make them easier to remember. You’ll be able to devote all your mental resources to a certain thing for some time, which can help strengthen your cognitive abilities. This is especially important if you’re trying to accomplish something big! It’s also a good idea to commit yourself to something that will benefit others – for example, if you want to help the hungry.
