To ask - what do you think is the main difference between crush/infatuation and real love?

[WestCountryJohn]

This - really. Something I've pondered on a while

Love is a 'warts and all' feeling - you know the person well, including their faults.

Infatuation is an intense feeling you have for an idealised version of a person.

Infatuation is unsustainable in the long term, although it can be replaced by love over time.

Crush --- you fancy him or her physically but you don't know much about them

Infatustion -- I suppose those are intense romantic feelings, lust and yearning or a new person you just started seeing

Love -- Erotic love at the beginning of a relationship that turns into Platonic love

Platonic Love -- something you may feel for your best mate, your niece or a beloved family member

Obviously you can love cats and dogs but it's more of a stable feeling if trust and companionship

If anyone else had insights, I'd love to read bc not 100% on that either

I reckon you start dating someone, it's passion in the begging and then it gradually turns into Platonic Love (friends, companionship, stability)

A lot of people are disappointed when that lust from the beggining is replaced by companionship love, it's difficult to have all-consuming passion and stability at tge same time. Anyone else? 😋

I think crushes/infatuation are often based on an idealised/on a pedestal version of a person, whereas real love is recognising they are flawed and have ugly parts of themselves but you still love them. Also think real love comes with time, because you have to really know someone for their full self to be revealed to you.

Duration.

You enjoy the early loved-up feelings, but are also engaging your brain and auditioning for a long-term role in your life. Looking for someone you find attractive, but also has qualities you want to be around (like kindness, good manners in all situations, helpfulness) and over time finding out if they are not just present, but durably present (ie not just wheeled out short-term to impress)

Thank you @Sparklesocks that makes sense x

Thank you, as well👍

Thanks to everyone who's replied. I basically agree with elements all of you have said. I think that crush/infatuation is more often than not based on looks and how someone seems to behave superficially whereas real love is more how they actually deal with life on a day to day basis and also based on the support and treatment you actually get from that person

I also feel a crush/infatuation can over time turn into real love.

I read once that a crush/infatuation is more of a passive feeling while love is a based more on an active appreciation of a person's actual qualities