The phases of love include sizzling hot chemistry, comfortable attraction, and a deep emotional attachment. If your romantic relationship has changed over time, you and your partner are normal!
Before the tips, a quip:
“Love at first sight is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.” ~ Amy Bloom.
And there are two stages of love! The initial romantic chemistry, and the love that lasts a lifetime. One of my favorite books about relationships is ScreamFree Marriage: Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer. Even if you and your spouse don’t scream at each other, you need to read that book
And, check out these three phases of romantic love and four tips for relationships…
Phases of Love – How Romantic Relationships Change Over Time
Romantic feelings and chemistry
Romantic love is driven by testosterone and estrogen. Mating is the evolutionary purpose of this stage of love; it creates strong physical attraction and sets the stage for emotional attachment. In this phase of love, endorphins soak your brain and you’re immersed in intense pleasure. Your partner is perfect, ideal, made for you. In the romance phase you feel exhilarated and even “high” (similar to the feeling you get after eating gourmet dark chocolate or enjoying a great workout!).
Physical attraction and power struggles (the “lovesick” phase)
In the second phase of a romantic love relationship, you may lose your appetite, need less sleep, and daydream about your lover on the bus, during meetings, in the shower. In this stage of love, the hormones dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are racing through your body and brain. You’re also trying to shape your lover into your ideal partner – which is where the power struggles come in (and where the book How to Change Someone You Love might come in, too!). In this relationship phase, you’re becoming more realistic, and you and your partner may argue about things such as which friends to spend time with or whether you should listen to country or rap music in the car. The infatuation is wearing off, and a strong emotional attachment begins to set in.
Emotional attachment or unconditional acceptance
A mature love relationship involves commitment, partnership, and even children. In this phase of love, you’re aware of both positive and negative traits in your partner, and you’ve decided you want to build a life together – and perhaps get married. Confrontation is most likely to occur in this stage of love (though if you’re authentic and honest, it’ll also happen in the second phase). You and your partner will either stay committed to a healthy love relationship or decide to call it quits.
4 Tips for a More Loving Relationship
Focus on the things you can control in your relationship
Your attitude, your behavior, your words, and your energy are all things you have control over. If you want something to change in any phase of a romantic relationship, focus on your own attitudes or actions – not your partner’s (I know this contradicts the book I featured above, but it really is a fascinating read!).
Vent in healthy ways (in all phases of love)
Learn healthy ways to express your disappointment, anger, or frustration. Be honest and authentic, and kind and loving in all stages of romance. Psychological research shows that the happiest couples are true to themselves.
Remember the first, most romantic phase of love
Relive your feelings of lust and attraction for your partner. Think about the traits you were once attracted to, and work to revive those old feelings. Don’t forget who you fell in love with.
Own both your positive and negative feelings
Your partner can’t “make” you feel anything. If you feel unfulfilled in your life or overwhelmed by relationship problems, look at your dreams and goals. Are you pursuing the life you were meant to live? Are you following your heart? Develop your personality, mind, and spirit. Figure out what will make you happy in this phase of romance, and start creating the life you were meant to live.
Love isn’t just a vehicle that brings happiness and contentment to your life (or frustration and anger!). Love is a living, dynamic creature that changes, grows, and needs attention…and you must nurture it.
Has your loved changed to the point that you’re in a loveless relationship – or your partner isn’t honest with you? Read Is Your Boyfriend Telling Lies? How to Find Out the Truth.
If you know in your heart it's time to move on, read How to Let Go of Someone You Love.
What phase of love are you in? Comments welcome below…
I think hearts are broken in all phases of love because we’re human, weak, and unreliable. Love changes because we’re not perfect.
Love is the only game that two can play and both can win.But if love is so great then why are hearts broken?Maybe the answer is because without despair and all the bad things in the world,good things can never exist.
Although, sometimes relationships don’t end…they drag on for far longer than is healthy for both partners. That’s not necessarily the BEST phase of romantic relationship, but it happens!
Nice post
Having been in different romantic relationships over the years, I have came to notice that relationships usually go through stages, and that they end when one of the partners, or both, are unable to provide the necessary qualities needed to move into the next stage.
Love your articles!!!!