The Difference Between Liking, Loving, and Being In-Love

Words are powerful things. Whether they be written or spoken, words have the power to create and destroy, to heal and wound. Words are often used by all of us so carelessly that their true meanings can become lost in our everyday lives. A few great examples are the words “like”, “love” and the phrase “in-love” especially when it comes to talking about how we feel about another person.

Liking

People will say “I like you,” or “I like so-and-so”. That’s all good and dandy, but when we say “like”, it means we like something about them, whether it be their character, their beliefs, etc. It is conditional and nothing more.

Being “In-Love”

People will say they’re “in-love”. And they believe that this is the greatest of all. While it might certainly feel like it is the greatest of all, I have to disagree. Being “in-love” is an infatuation that is fleeting, temporary, and ultimately empty. You’ll only feel it for the moment. But when things go awry with the person you claim to be “in-love” with, will you still feel that you’re “in-love”? Emotions are fleeting.

Love

When someone says they “love” someone else, then that is the greatest of all. Love is unconditional. Love is patient, love is kind, love is not selfish. Love is a choice and sometimes it’s a breeze and you might feel those emotions like you’re “in-love”, and sometimes it’s hard and you have to work at it, but that is love. And love will stand the test of time.