What Does Real Love Look Like? Best Relationship Quotes To Answer That Question
There are many beliefs about what real love looks like. And it makes sense since every person has individual needs and desires in our various relationships.
This article explores different relationship quotes that explain what love looks like from various perspectives. From there, you can explore what real love looks like to you through methods like online therapy.
Quotes on love and appreciation
Many relationship experts and mental health professionals who work with couples highlight the value of showing appreciation for your partner. Here are some beautiful love quotes that might help you express gratitude for your relationship and partner.
“Where there is love, there is life.” - Mahatma Gandhi
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” - John F. Kennedy
“Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” - Franklin P. Jones
“If you think something positive about someone, you should tell them. It is the easiest and cheapest way to create value that exists in the world.” - Justin Kan
“I appreciate you more because of the road I’ve traveled. My story brought me to you, and I wouldn’t revise a word of my past if it led me anywhere but your door.” - Aaron Polson
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our soul blossom.” - Marcel Proust
Quotes on love and commitment
Commitment, like love, may have various meanings depending on who you are and how you identify. However, authentic connections that exist on an ongoing basis often require a commitment to put in the effort to work with the other person when needed. Here are some quotes on love and commitment.
"True love – that is, deep, abiding love that is impervious to emotional whims or fancy – is a choice. It's a constant commitment to a person regardless of the present circumstances." - Mark Manson
“Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.” - Jim Rohn
"Relationships are hard work, but when the work is put in, the love is unstoppable." - Dyllan Murray
"True love doesn't happen right away; it's an ever-growing process. It develops after you've gone through many ups and downs when you've suffered together, cried together, laughed together." - Ricardo Montalban
Quotes on love and tough times
Most of us encounter rough patches in our relationships and life. And when we love someone, we must often get through these challenging seasons together. Here are some relationship quotes for those who might be going through a rocky time or are supporting a partner through one.
"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." - Maya Angelou
"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." - Barbara Johnson
"I'd rather have bad times with you, than good times with someone else. I'd rather be beside you in a storm, than safe and warm by myself. I'd rather have hard times together than have it easy apart. I'd rather have the one who holds my heart." - Luther Vandross
"Relationships are hard work, but when the work is put in, the love is unstoppable." - Dyllan Murray
“The ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree but to hold hands.” - Alexandra Penney
Quotes on love and relationship health
Maintaining a relationship that each person finds healthy often requires time and dedication, but it can also happen spontaneously. Here are some quotes that explore relationship health.
“A healthy relationship will never require you to sacrifice your friends, your dreams, or your dignity.” - Dinkar Kalotra
"True love is not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. It is, on the contrary, an element calm and deep. It looks beyond mere externals and is attracted by qualities alone. It is wise and discriminating, and its devotion is real and abiding." - Ellen G. White
“Love in such a way that the person you love feels free.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
More relationship quotes
Since ideas about love range from person to person and we all show love in diverse ways, you might be looking for different words to illustrate your perspective on real love or your relationship. So here are some additional, varied relationship and intimacy quotes you might enjoy.
“Remember that you don't choose love; love chooses you. All you really can do is accept it for all its mystery when it comes into your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away.” - Kent Nerburn
“Intimacy is the capacity to be rather weird with someone - and finding that that's okay with them.” - Alain de Botton
“I like to think that I'm trying to choose love over most things, but that's my choice.” - Seal
"To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return" - Madonna
"Love consists in giving without getting in return; in giving what is not owed, what is not due the other. That's why true love is never based, as associations for utility or pleasure are, on a fair exchange." - Mortimer Adler
"Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks the head, the heart, and the senses simultaneously." - Lao Tzu
"Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet service to see who they are." - Will Ferrell
A therapist can help you ask the right questions
With these quotes and thoughts in mind, we hope you find it easier to identify what love looks like for you. Remember, almost every relationship goes through ups and downs. Sometimes you might not see eye-to-eye or unintentionally step on each other's toes, and that's natural.
Speaking with a mental health professional alongside your partner or as an individual is often beneficial when trying to understand what real love looks like for you. A therapist can be a valuable addition to your support network, and since online and in-person treatments are equally effective, choose whichever method works best for you.
Therapy can help deepen your connection with your partner regardless of whether you're encountering hurdles in the relationship. Whether you want to see someone as a couple or as an individual, it can help both parties explore and understand their emotions and experiences. And online options often make it easier for couples to coordinate their schedules for shared sessions.
The independent mental health professionals at Regain are available to help. Regain provides online therapy services from licensed providers with various areas of expertise. In addition, we offer an easy, affordable way to get mental health care. No matter what the indicators of real love are to you, a mental health professional can help you find the healthy relationship tools and skills you're looking for.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What are the signs of true love?
What does love feel like? It may be true if it is unconditional love, has no expectations, and—perhaps more important than anything else—is healthy. A truly loving relationship should have communication, affection, trust, appreciation, and mutual respect. If you see these signs, and the relationship is a healthy, honest, nurturing one, you would likely consider your relationship one of true love. Another vital element of real or true love is individuality. You should feel able to express your individuality, and your partner should embrace that. The same is true the other way around; your partner should feel like they can be their full selves, and you should embrace them wholeheartedly. A healthy and truly loving relationship is one of interdependence rather than codependency.
What does fake love look like?
Sometimes we wonder...is love real? Genuine love is unconditional. In addition to loving and being loved unconditionally, a relationship characterized by genuine love will include mutual respect. On the other hand, “fake” love may be conditional, or the bond might be unhealthy in other ways. You may wonder where you stand with the person and experience a lot of highs and lows. You may not feel autonomous or loved for who you are, or something else may be going on. Some things, like extreme ups and downs (for example, love bombing and then proceeding to withhold love and affection) or the feeling that a partner's affection is conditional, could be a sign of a toxic relationship. Other signs of inauthentic love include controlling behaviors, judgment or criticism, and dishonesty.
What is the first sign of love?
There are a number of research-backed signs of being in love, but one of the standout signs is experiencing a rush of positive feelings. This is primarily due to dopamine. According to the definition of love, a person will experience “an intense feeling of deep affection.” If you feel strong, authentic feelings of affection and positive regard for someone you are involved with romantically, this may be a sign that you are in love.
What is the secret of true love?
There’s no one stand-alone secret to true love, but there are vital elements of a loving relationship that make it successful long term. Crucial elements of any genuine and loving relationship include mutual respect, appreciation, trust, communication, positive regard, and affection. A sense of trust between you and the person you love is also important. These are the elements essential for a healthy and good love story. If you’re struggling with any of these aspects or facing any other problems in your partnership, therapy can help. Love has no expectations, so you should feel free to be your authentic self if you're in a loving relationship. One of the keys to finding love is being your authentic self and creating a true connection. Keep that in mind if you’re currently looking for love, especially if you tend to change yourself in hopes of gaining the approval of others. Doing this may not serve you long as it can prevent you from forming an authentic connection. With that in mind, that real love means or refers to feelings of deep affection, it’s crucial to make sure that the partnership is built on honesty.
Can you be in love with two people?
During your lifetime, you may fall in love more than once. But falling in love with two people simultaneously, while possible, is something that has the potential to be a big problem. If you are non-monogamous, it is fully possible to love more than one person and have a relationship with both. Polyamorous and otherwise non-monogamous relationships will all have their own parameters. As long as it is all consensual, this can be a happy, healthy, and rewarding relationship full of true love. Cheating is a very different story that can lead to serious problems. If your relationship has been impacted by cheating or infidelity, you may consider reaching out to a counselor or therapist who can help.
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