How to know if you LOVE them or are IN LOVE with them

A man stopped me on Michigan Avenue the other day and said: “Excuse me, I have a random question for you. What’s the difference between loving someone and being IN love with someone?” I was a bit caught off guard and honestly couldn’t tell if he was hitting on me (based on the fact that right before he told me I have the most gorgeous hair he’d ever seen lol) or if he was genuinely desperate for a woman’s opinion on the matter.

Either way, it got me thinking.

✧ What IS the difference between “LOVE” & “IN LOVE”? ✧

In the moment, my response was something along the lines of: That’s a very complex question that I definitely don’t have time to fully answer for you. But to sum it up, I believe that loving someone is genuinely caring for that human… you love your best friends, family, dog, partner. I view it as a passive, yet genuine connection with someone. Something that is a known truth.

But to me, being IN love is more of an active, sensual experience. (I’m not sure how much of the rest of this I actually said out loud to him or not, but that’s beside the point). It’s when your whole body vibrates with spark energy and you can’t help but gravitate toward that person.

The connection, passion, admiration, and dedication to that person overcomes you. When you think about them, see them, or hear them, your entire being becomes invested in their soul as though it intertwines with yours.

And that’s when it hit me. This didn’t just apply to people. People always ask me if I love what I’m doing. And the answer is no, because I don’t just love my life. I am ACTIVELY, fully, intimately IN love with who I am and what I do.

And I truly believe that when you are IN love with your life, that’s when you’re no longer trying to invite a partner in to fill that void of passion for life. But rather, that’s when you’re inviting someone in who meets you at your magnetic, expansive frequency so you can rise together.

Self-reflection time: what do you think? What’s the difference between loving someone/something and being IN love? (PS - there’s no right or wrong answer) ❤️

xo,

Em