Q: How long do you think two people should be together before they can say they truly love each other?
-Lisa P.
A: Hi Lisa,
That’s a great question. I had recently told a reader that
two dates is too soon to be in love, and I always get emails from people who are the exceptions to the rule who say things like: “We met on Tuesday, got married on Wednesday and it’s been 85 happy years.” Yes, it does work out on occasion. But even if you have strong feelings right out of the gate, I still insist that true love cannot happen that quickly. So you ask, how long does it take to know?
For me, the proof is more situational than a matter of time. Until you go through certain situations with someone and see how they react, you really can’t truly know them. At the onset of any relationship, we all put on our best faces; this is particularly true when attraction is at play and we are trying to impress someone.
This is a form of
motivational distortion, and simply means that we try to consciously and unconsciously look our best and be on our best behavior.
As a general rule, it isn’t until we have multiple life experiences and become more comfortable with that other person that we begin to let our guard down, show our true faces and share our honest feelings.
As a result, my experience tells me that it takes at least a year to significantly close the gap between hopeful infatuation and real-world love.
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
:angel:Knowledge IS Growth