What is the Difference Between Infatuation and Authentic Love?
Infatuation is the intense rush of attraction and emotional idealization that shows up early in a relationship and feels like love — but hasn’t yet been tested by time, sacrifice, or the real complexity of another person. Authentic love, by contrast, is a choice of the will: desiring and actively working for the genuine good of the other person, even when the feelings are quiet. Infatuation asks, “How does this person make me feel?” Authentic love asks, “How can I serve this person’s good?” Both involve real emotion, but only one has staying power. ...