With Valentine’s Day cards piled high on store shelves and candy hearts everywhere, it is easy to get caught up in the hype of love. While love is a beautiful emotion that can inspire millennia of poets and artists, it has also been an elusive concept to define. Some say it is a feeling, others argue that it is a choice to sacrifice yourself for another person and still others claim that love is just about caring for someone else’s needs.

In the past, philosophers and scientists have argued over what love is and how it works. Some believe that it is just a collection of chemical reactions in the brain, while others think that it’s more than that. A lot of people who have been in love will tell you that it changed the way they see the world around them. For example, they might notice that they are more apt to try new things or enjoy activities they never would have done before with their loved one.

It is common for people to fall in love because they share similar interests and values with a person. These similarities create a bond that makes them feel like they know each other on a deeper level and share a similar worldview. These relationships usually move toward the attachment stage of love. In addition to the similar interests and worldview, other factors that can make people fall in love include:

Proximity/Proxinquity: The more time two individuals spend together, the closer they feel to each other. This is often due to the release of hormones like dopamine and adrenaline, which can lead to a feeling of euphoria. This is why some people feel a rush when they talk to their crush or best friend and why they are so excited to spend time with them.

Filling Needs: Most people have some basic needs, such as companionship, intimacy and sex. Those who are able to meet the needs of those they are in a relationship with tend to be more inclined to fall in love. This is why some couples fall in love quickly and easily and other take a long time to build a strong bond.

Passion/Arousal: When two people share a sense of excitement and adventure together, this can create feelings of arousal and affection. People in this phase of love may have a hard time focusing on other things and they tend to want to spend more and more time with their partner.

Many people in this stage of love find themselves being influenced by their partner’s actions and will do what they feel is right, even if it goes against their own desires. This is a great sign of true love. It’s a beautiful thing to watch and something that should be nurtured. Love is an experience that should be cherished and valued for the benefits that it brings to our lives. Regardless of how it is defined, it’s important to remember that happiness is not served up on a platter and must be earned.