18 Things People Often Get Wrong About Love

18 Things People Often Get Wrong About Love

Love is a complex and often misunderstood emotion. While it’s often portrayed as a fairytale romance filled with grand gestures and passionate fireworks, the reality of love is much more nuanced and requires effort, compromise, and a willingness to accept each other for who you are. Here are some of the biggest things people get wrong about love.

1. Love is always easy and effortless.

The idea that love is always easy and just flows effortlessly is a bit of a myth. Real love actually takes work – understanding, compromise, and effort. It’s not about constant struggles, but it’s also not a fairy tale where everything falls perfectly into place. Relationships can have their ups and downs, and working through them is part of building a strong bond.

2. Love is about fixing someone.

This one’s tricky. Love isn’t about finding a ‘project’ or someone you need to fix. It’s about accepting each other as you are, flaws and all. Sure, you can support and encourage each other to grow, but it’s not your job to fix or change someone into your ideal partner. Healthy love is about growth together, not molding someone into a different person.

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4. Love is always enough.

While love is a powerful emotion, sometimes, just loving someone isn’t enough to make a relationship work. There are other factors – like compatibility, timing, life goals, and personal growth – that play significant roles. Love is the foundation, but building a lasting relationship often requires more than just strong feelings.

5. Love is always about grand gestures and romantic surprises.

While grand gestures and surprises can be wonderful, love isn’t always about the big, dramatic moments. It’s often found in the small, everyday actions – a thoughtful text, understanding during a tough day, or just being there for each other. It’s these consistent, small acts of kindness and care that truly make up the fabric of a loving relationship.

6. Love is always about passion and fireworks.

Passion and fireworks are great, but they’re not the whole picture. Love also includes comfort, stability, and deep connection. It’s not always about intense emotions or butterflies in your stomach. Long-term love often settles into a more stable, deep connection, where comfort and mutual understanding are just as thrilling as those initial sparks.

7. Love is always about having someone to complete you.

The idea that you need someone else to complete you is a bit misleading. Real love is about two whole individuals coming together, not two halves making a whole. It’s healthier to view a partner as a complement to your life, not a missing piece. Being complete on your own and then sharing your life with someone else can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling relationship.

8. Love is always about getting everything you want.

In reality, love often involves compromise and not always getting everything you want. It’s about finding a balance between your needs and your partner’s. Sometimes, you might have to give up something small for the greater good of the relationship, and that’s okay. It’s about creating a partnership where both people feel heard and valued.

9. Love is always about being happy all the time.

Expecting to be happy all the time in a relationship is unrealistic. Like life, relationships can have their tough moments. There will be disagreements, challenges, and sometimes sadness. It’s not about being happy every single moment, but about supporting each other through all kinds of moments – the good and the not-so-good.

10. Love is always about finding your soulmate.

The concept of a soulmate – one perfect match for you in the world – is a romantic idea, but it’s not always realistic. Love can happen in many ways, with different people, and at different times in your life. It’s more about finding someone who aligns with you, understands you, and with whom you can build a strong, loving relationship.

11. Love is always about making sacrifices.

While sacrifice is part of any relationship, it shouldn’t be the main theme of your love story. It’s about mutual respect and understanding, not constantly giving up your needs or desires. A healthy relationship involves give and take from both sides, not one person always making sacrifices.

12. Love means you always agree.

Thinking that love means always being in agreement is a bit off the mark. In reality, it’s normal and even healthy for couples to have differing opinions and perspectives. It’s about how you handle these disagreements – with respect and understanding, rather than expecting to always see eye to eye. Disagreements can actually lead to deeper understanding and growth in a relationship.

13. Love will solve all your problems.

Some might think that finding love will magically solve all their problems. But, love isn’t a cure-all for life’s challenges. While having a supportive partner can certainly help you face difficulties, it’s not their responsibility to fix everything for you. Each person in the relationship should be proactive in addressing their own issues and contributing positively to the partnership.

14. Love means being together all the time.

While spending quality time together is important, being joined at the hip isn’t necessary for a loving relationship. In fact, having time apart to pursue individual interests and maintain a sense of individuality can be very beneficial. It’s about finding the right balance between togetherness and independence.

15. Love means your partner will change for you.

Expecting your partner to change their fundamental characteristics or beliefs for you can lead to disappointment. While people do grow and evolve, expecting significant changes to their core self is unrealistic. Love is more about accepting each other as you are, and working together to grow in the same direction.

16. Love means never feeling attracted to anyone else.

Being in love doesn’t suddenly make you blind to the rest of the world. It’s normal to find other people attractive, even when you’re in a committed relationship. What matters is how you act on these feelings. Fidelity and commitment are about choices and actions, not about never feeling a flicker of attraction to anyone else.

17. Love means your partner is responsible for your happiness.

While your partner can contribute greatly to your happiness, it’s not their job to be your sole source of joy. Relying entirely on your partner for happiness is a heavy burden for any relationship. Each person needs to find happiness within themselves and bring that into the relationship.

18. Love means not needing to communicate your needs.

Expecting your partner to just know what you need or want without communicating it is unrealistic. Good communication is key in a healthy relationship. It’s about openly expressing your needs and desires, not about expecting your partner to be a mind reader.

19. Love should be like it is in the movies.

Movies often portray love in a dramatic, all-consuming way, but real-life love is usually less theatrical. Expecting your relationship to mimic a Hollywood script can lead to unrealistic expectations. Real love is more about the everyday moments of connection, understanding, and support.

Gail is Bolde's social media and partnership manager, as well as an all-around behind-the-scenes renaissance woman. She worked for more than 25 years in her city's local government before making the switch to women's lifestyle and relationship sites, initially at HelloGiggles before making the switch to Bolde.
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