Lust is about taking, while love is about giving
If you’re in love with your partner, you’re probably thinking about ways to show your appreciation and devotion; yet, if you’re only in lust, you might be more selfish, only looking for self-pleasure. “The essence of lust, along with the traits of jealousy and pursuit of honor, is based upon ‘devouring.’ Specifically, it’s the sensation that leads one to try and take and swallow-up what someone else has or is, and incorporate it as part of you,” says Shlomo Zalman Bregman, a rabbi and matchmaker in New York City “In fact, this is a major reason why a person driven by lust often has a burning desire to physically consume their mate through the fires of their passion,” he adds. On the other hand, the difference between love and lust is that love is about giving and investing in another person, he explains. And, if you stop doing things to show appreciation and gratitude, your relationship might be headed for a breakup.
You spend all your time together in bed
If you’re always in bed or engaging in something sexual, it’s likely that you’re in lust, rather than love. “When you only feel lust for someone, your goal is to experience sexual pleasure, which isn’t bad, but lust usually excludes a strong emotional component,” says relationship expert David Bennett. Contrarily, love includes sexual desire, but is much broader. “If it’s love, you and your partner will meet each other’s sexual and emotional needs, such as helping each other through problems, instead of it just being about how fast you can get each other’s clothes off,” Bennett explains. And, a tip, try asking one of these questions to deepen your love and move past mere sexual chemistry.
Your imagination is on fire
As opposed to love, lust is a feeling, sensation, and emotion that is not based on a real appetite. Instead, it’s based upon a projection of your imagination, of the qualities and significance that the person in front of you possesses.”When you’re experiencing lust towards a person, you’re far more likely to idealize that person and who they are, and you’re sort of projecting onto them what you want them to be, based upon your needs as you perceive them,” says Bregman. Unfortunately, this frequently leads to the belief that the person you’re lusting after is flawless and can do no wrong. And as a result, many red flags are missed, he explains. Here’s the difference when it comes to love vs. lust: “If you really love a person, you’ll probably see them as they actually are: A real human being with lots of flaws (or at least a couple), but you love them nonetheless,” says Bregman. And, if conflicts do arise due to flaws, it’s best to use good communication to resolve the issues.
