To some people, 'I love you' and 'I am in love with you' are one and the same thing. But that is not the case. There is a huge difference between the two phrases.

Someone can love you but not be in love with you. That sounds like a paradox, but it makes perfect sense.

We live in a society where the word love gets thrown around a lot. Some people even grew up thinking love is about flowers and chocolates, but the reality of this strange and powerful human emotion set them straight.

Love is the same all over the globe, but still, it takes many forms. For instance, you might fall so madly in love with someone at first but then love them much less in the end. The opposite is entirely possible – it might seem like you don't love someone at first but later realize that they mean the world to you.

So, love does not stay in the honeymoon phase forever, as some people would like to believe. There will be a time when your partner will be perfect. But there will also come a time when you will question your decision to have that person in your life. And it's all part of love.

Sometimes, you will realize that the person you thought you loved is not right for you, in which case you will just go your separate ways. That can obviously be a little hard on you.

Yes, You Can Love Someone And Not Be In Love With Them

When you are in love, you want the person around you all the time. You think about them night and day, and you can literally do anything for them as long as you believe it will please them. This person becomes your world. Life feels beautiful because of this person, and every moment with them is your idea of heaven.

But Then That Phase Comes To An End…

Some relationships don't go past this point. At this stage, the truth finally sets in, and you see your partner for who they are, not what your fantasies suggest they are. You will see sides of each other you never knew about, and that will be a tough test for both of you. During this stage in the relationship, you can even fall out of love. However, you can also start feeling love for the person on a deeper level.

Then You Love, Without Being In Love

Only a lucky few make it to this point, and yet it is a point that we all desire as we seek love. This kind of love endures, and it is devoted to making the relationship work regardless of the challenges that emerge. At this point in your love story, you lose sleep over the other person when you have a falling out. It is no longer having a sleepless night because you can't stop having beautiful fantasies about them.

You begin to find yourself once more because you are freed from the shackles of infatuation. This love is unconditional, and it is the kind of love that can last a lifetime.

So, the next time someone tells you they love you but they are not in love with you, don't take offense. It means you have attained something that many people can only fantasize or read about in books.