The Difference Between Needing, Wanting And Loving Somebody

SHARE:

The Difference Between Needing, Wanting And Loving Somebody

Recently a close friend called to tell me that she’s breaking up with her fiancé, who she has been with for six years.

They got engaged just last year and were even planning to buy a new house together.

Of course, it came as a huge shock, as I had always thought everything was running so perfectly for her (or, at least, that’s how it seemed on her social media).

I remember she met her now ex boyfriend/fiancé during freshmen year of college. He was her “first love,” as she had never had a boyfriend before him. All her friends, including myself, were really happy for her.

The two of them stuck together for the whole four years of college, and even went on a graduation trip to Europe together afterward.

Then, she moved to another state for work and they began a long-distance relationship. That arrangement lasted for just over one year before they got back to living in the same city again. And before long, he proposed, she said yes and they got engaged.

Everything was “going according to plan,” like most fairytales we know that center around the idea of first loves and happily ever afters.

But then, like a cruel twist of fate, things began to change. My friend suddenly fell out of love with the person she would marry.

“How do you know if you are still in love with someone, or if you’re staying because of the familiarity?” she asked me over the phone.

At the time, I was pretty taken aback by her frankness. “Give me a moment to think about it. I want to give a clear answer to you,” I replied. And, after a minute or two of awkward silence on the phone, this is how I broke it down for her:

There’s a difference between wanting somebody/something and needing something/someone.

Here’s an analogy: You want a Prada bag, but you don’t exactly need one. Of course, your desire for that particular thing you want can be weak or strong, depending on several things.

You may want something really badly, with every ounce of strength that you possess, or you may only want it half-heartedly. On the other hand, you need oxygen; there is no real desire for it, but you have to have it, nonetheless, for survival.

Of course, there are circumstances in which a need may become a want. For instance, when you’re drowning, the need for oxygen gets so strong that the need becomes want.

In those few seconds, you want oxygen like you want your life — literally. Often, we only truly appreciate the value and necessity of some things only when we lose them, don’t we?

Want and need can be really different, but at times, pretty similar. So, what is love? Here’s the answer to the million-dollar question: Love is when you want what you need and need what you want.

Now, let me spell it out for you further. I believe most love relationships start out with a state of wanting. When you fall in love, you want the other person very, very much.

And then slowly, over time, as you love, you also become more and more accustomed to that person, so much so that you might even feel as though you can’t live without him or her. This is when want becomes need. When you want and need something simultaneously, you can call it love.

When you truly love someone, you know that you want him or her. You can feel that craving in the depth of your soul and in every nerve and every fiber of your physical being. It may feel almost like an addiction or an unyielding obsession.

You know that there is lust, but there is also something more. It’s something that truly satisfies, yet leaves you wanting more. Indeed, love can leave you in a vulnerable state. Perhaps this is where “want” transcends into “need.”

It’s when you have become so dependent on the other person for your emotional and physical demands that you can’t live properly if he or she disappeared from your life completely.

With this person, you can feel a sense of familiarity and assurance that comes with his or her acceptance of you. You feel safe with him or her.

In a way, love can become a comfort zone, a refuge you can run to. Though, in another way, it can also be a dangerous place where you might get yourself or the other party really hurt.

After a breakup, it’s unavoidable that you will feel slightly needy because now that you’re out of your comfort zone, you just want to feel safe again.

My friend did admit to me that in her head, she didn’t want her ex as a boyfriend or lover anymore, yet in her heart, she still had feelings for him, and thus she felt deeply perplexed.

“This is not love that you’re feeling,” I tried to explain, “It’s nostalgia. Even if you were to get back together after he comes begging at your feet, you might be satisfied for a while, but you won’t stay satisfied for long.

Because, in the end, he is still not what you want. He was, but that’s the past. You loved him, but now, you don’t. Now you feel like you need him only because he’s part of what that feels familiar.

Undeniably, he’s the safer choice, compared to being single again after such a long time. But, I can assure you that if you settle for this half-assed love, you are risking nothing but your future happiness.”

My friend knew that I was right, and I knew I was right, too. Yet, I was also fully aware that it might be slightly hypocritical of me to set such high bars for her. At the end of the day, it’s not me who will suffer the consequences of my advice — she will.

Still, I wouldn’t have given her advice that I would not personally follow. No one said going through breakups is easy, let alone leaving the person you thought you would marry. Yet, it’s definitely better than running away on the wedding day, right?

The truth is, love is never completely black and white. In fact, I think 80 percent of it is grey matter. Love can fade just as quickly as it can surge and fill your entire being with its magical feelings of happiness and bliss.

Lust is part of love, but love cannot be defined solely by the feeling of wanting someone. Desires can be ephemeral, just like feelings are mercurial.

And, when you need someone but do not have that insatiable want for him or her, it could be nostalgia or just lazy dependency.

Don’t settle for less. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone in search of a person who could be better for you either. Like they say, you accept the love you think you deserve.

Take some time and think about it. Some things are better late than never, and love is certainly one of them.

by Keay Nigel

Source: Elite Daily via Idealist4ever

Related:

COMMENTS

BLOGGER: 12
  1. Hmmmm.... this reminds me of the comment a writer made when asked about the steamy sexy novels that she writes and how her stories compare to her own life. She responded that she was with the same person for more than 30 years and she said they had fallen in and out of love many times, and it was just luck that they experience syncronicity in this ebb and flow. She said maybe it was also laziness combined with luck. This is where your article overlaps this thought a little as it references the comfort zone and familiarity holding us to one place with a person and keeping us from making a change. My question is: Does that always result in future unhappiness? The strength to allow the honest ebb and flow between two individuals might bring a deeper connection than continually setting sights upon that ever (seemingly) greener pasture. Sometimes, we give up too easily, especially when set examples for children and rock their stability and sense of family and home. I think the pendulum swung from suffering through bad combinations with a sense of being trapped to such a fear of that, that we are commonly calling it quits without enough pause. There is a bliss of not needing and not wanting, but just allowing and loving. I was feeling all of this when I read the article's title. It is important to acknowledge needs and wants (of course) but there is a magic of giving loving acceptance and allowing (both your own truth and the other's truth) that can take you on an unexpected journey holding one person's hand.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How about if you eliminate want and need by loving yourself and be in a relationship with someone just to share the experience of life?

    ReplyDelete
  3. The author here appears with confused own concept of love and attachment with a person. The love doesn't change with changing circumstances but attachment to person do change unlike. To understand love clearly one may consider love of a mother to her child. If love is there for a child, it will never change until she dies. If it is not there that will never be in any circumstances. In contrast, attachment with the person may change with changing circumstances of the need and want to the attachment with someone.


    Автор здесь появляется с запутанном собственной концепции любви и привязанности с человеком. Любовь не меняется с изменением обстоятельств, но привязанность к человеку действительно изменяются в отличие. Для того, чтобы понять любовь ясно можно рассматривать любовь матери к своему ребенку. Если есть любовь для ребенка, он никогда не изменится, пока она не умрет. Если это не то, что никогда не будет ни при каких обстоятельствах. В противоположность этому, привязанность с человеком может измениться с изменением обстоятельств необходимости и хотят привязанности с кем-то.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Take a look at essayclick.net, to get some good advises on your freshman year in college.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is a mistake to leave. It is a time to think over all the beautiful moments & life together so far by yourself. He could not be unattractive & unworthy to your life after a long while. It is the shifting to new house that as though your old life with him is to be left behind but it is your new life with the same person you shift & bring along together right from the start. Probably too the plan consuming ahead as to imperfections.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well anyone who has tried to explain or define love has created bigger problems for self and others... author must contemplate and reflect.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Is this author seriously suggesting that it's only "true love" if you need that person desperately and can't imagine living without them?! What a horrible thing to be putting in women's minds! Absolutely confusing love and attachment. I hope people can see through this and don't take it to heart. Geez.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi everyone!

    My Boyfriend broke up with me, I thought I had lost everything.i cry all day and think that he will never come back to me again.i read a testimony by a man called James Montes about him saying that how Dr.Unity help him to get back is EX wife within 28 hours.I contacted him and he told me what to do and i did it then he did a (Love spell) for me. 28 hours later, my (Ex Boyfriend) came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promise never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal and our love is now stronger that he can't do without being with me. I and my boyfriend are living together happily again. Dr.unity is the best online spell caster that is powerful and genuine. And when I was at my most desperate,he didn’t take advantage of me. You performed a very good service for a person in true need. I don’t know how you did it, or how this magic works, but all I know is, IT WORKS!! Andrew and i are happily back together, and I’ll always be grateful to Dr.unity, if you are here and you need your Ex back or your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore, contact this powerful spell caster now. Here’s his contact,
    Email him at: Unityspelltemple@gmail.com ,
    Call or Whats-app him: +2348071622464 ,
    Web site:www.drunity.blogspot.com ,
    I am Regina Moore British Citizen.

    ReplyDelete
  9. After being in relationship with Wilson for seven years,he broke up with me, I did everything possible to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so much because of the love I have for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to someone online and she suggested that I should contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back but I am the type that don't believed in spell, I had no choice than to try it, I meant a spell caster called Dr Zuma zuk and I email him, and he told me there was no problem that everything will be okay before three days, that my ex will return to me before three days, he cast the spell and surprisingly in the second day, it was around 4pm. My ex called me, I was so surprised, I answered the call and all he said was that he was so sorry for everything that happened, that he wanted me to return to him, that he loves me so much. I was so happy and went to him, that was how we started living together happily again. Since then, I have made promise that anybody I know that have a relationship problem, I would be of help to such person by referring him or her to the only real and powerful spell caster who helped me with my own problem and who is different from all the fake ones out there. Anybody could need the help of the spell caster, his email: spiritualherbalisthealing@gmail.com or call him +2349055637784 you can email him if you need his assistance in your relationship or anything. CONTACT HIM NOW FOR SOLUTION TO ALL YOUR PROBLEMS

    ReplyDelete
  10. The main time the borrower can lose his auto is the point at which he or she defaults from installment. Losing your auto as the result of the non-installment of the advance is one reason why it is critical to reimburse the credit. car title loans chicago

    ReplyDelete
  11. It’s a thing of joy to have someone on earth who God almighty has sent to redeem and help those that are in captivity. My husband divorced me but Doctor Purity recently saved my broken marriage again. You can find more on my blog-post. here is his email puritylovespell@gmail.com about how my marriage was reunited.my name is Jessica Jackson,from UK, Hampshire.you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348070980389.

    ReplyDelete

Name

Activism,1307,Art,791,BLM,22,Consciousness,1545,CoVid-19,154,Cures,227,Do it Yourself,112,Documentaries,72,Environment,1478,Fiction,2,Health,765,History,464,Human Intelligence,554,Inspirations,2,Inspiring Stories,4179,Justice,536,Mental Health,16,News,1411,Nutrition,218,Philosophy,309,Photography,1590,Quantum Physics,29,Quizzes & Tests,145,Quotes,113,Relationships,781,Science,1145,Self Improvement,838,Spirituality,248,Sustainability,246,Technology,477,Truth,755,
ltr
item
Thinking Humanity: The Difference Between Needing, Wanting And Loving Somebody
The Difference Between Needing, Wanting And Loving Somebody
Recently a close friend called to tell me that she’s breaking up with her fiancé, who she has been with for six years.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkfd5K7xxZK7FTprSIbLn6l8fCxSgLk1L7A-p7JgEkjVeBWdoB8DQ92wgfpuwEK2vLyaO90LESWWlVsDYLpnYiKRFZbIdMpyo7tDzzeVMNi692yQDfBfHu2tUH0hhllllBnPsNTo22z-c/s1600/The+Difference+Between+Needing%252C+Wanting+And+Loving+Somebody.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkfd5K7xxZK7FTprSIbLn6l8fCxSgLk1L7A-p7JgEkjVeBWdoB8DQ92wgfpuwEK2vLyaO90LESWWlVsDYLpnYiKRFZbIdMpyo7tDzzeVMNi692yQDfBfHu2tUH0hhllllBnPsNTo22z-c/s72-c/The+Difference+Between+Needing%252C+Wanting+And+Loving+Somebody.jpg
Thinking Humanity
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/2015/11/the-difference-between-needing-wanting-and-loving-somebody.html
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/2015/11/the-difference-between-needing-wanting-and-loving-somebody.html
true
7064777598104498166
UTF-8
Loaded All Posts Not found any posts VIEW ALL Readmore Reply Cancel reply Delete By Home PAGES POSTS View All RECOMMENDED FOR YOU LABEL ARCHIVE SEARCH ALL POSTS Not found any post match with your request Back Home Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January February March April May June July August September October November December Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec just now 1 minute ago $$1$$ minutes ago 1 hour ago $$1$$ hours ago Yesterday $$1$$ days ago $$1$$ weeks ago more than 5 weeks ago Followers Follow THIS PREMIUM CONTENT IS LOCKED STEP 1: Share to a social network STEP 2: Click the link on your social network Copy All Code Select All Code All codes were copied to your clipboard Can not copy the codes / texts, please press [CTRL]+[C] (or CMD+C with Mac) to copy