hey everyone and welcome to top think today we're going to learn about 16 surprising facts about
love now let's begin number one love in the brain the heart is the universal symbol of love when you
fall in love your heart rate quickens and pounds in your chest but the organ responsible for love
isn't actually your heart it's your brain when your brain falls in love it sends electrical
signals to the rest of your body specifically your heart and your gut so that pounding in your chest
those butterflies in your stomach that's your brain saying i think i'm falling in love
number two changing your body there's an endless list of cliches associated with love
someone in love might say i can't stop thinking about her i can't eat i can't sleep i'm miserable
as melodramatic as they sound love can significantly impact your regular bodily systems
like your hunger and sleep cycles so when you fall in love your brain releases a flurry of
neurotransmitters these chemicals create a range of sensations from stress to perfect euphoria
while neurotransmitters affect your mood and your perception they also modulate
your physical functions a rush of dopamine for example makes it harder to fall asleep
the stress hormone cortisol can take away your appetite and oxytocin the cuddle hormone can
increase your heart rate so when you fall in love your body changes in strange ways
so don't be surprised when your systems go haywire number three obsession in disguise
have you ever been obsessed with a person or an idea obsession is a unique human experience you
care so deeply about something that it consumes you it preoccupies your thoughts and it intrudes
into every aspect of your life but answer me this what's the difference between love
and obsession neurologically not much love and obsession activate similar parts of the brain
the two words have different connotations but inside your brain they are one and the same
number four lust versus love has anyone ever told you you're in lust not in love is there a
difference between feelings of lust and feelings of love lust is characterized by physical desire
and short-term infatuation often times you're attracted to the idea or potential of a partner
not the person themselves and that's why feelings of lust come as quickly as they go love on the
other hand is a passionate investment you make in a specific person you love a person
for who they are and not who they could be and that makes love more powerful than lust
number five love sickness love sickness isn't a real sickness it's a tumultuous cocktail of
confusing emotions and overwhelming hormones even though love sickness isn't a real sickness it may
negatively impact your health it turns out love sickness creates enough stress in your
body to decrease your immune response when your immune system is weak your body is vulnerable
to infections like the common cold love sickness might not be an illness but it can make you sick
number six stress relief how do you relieve stress some people meditate or exercise
others keep journals and practice creative hobbies but if you want to get rid of your stress
instantly then all you have to do is touch your partner physical contact between loving partners
dramatically decreases stress maybe you had a long day at work or your family is having a tough time
no matter where your stress is coming from embrace your partner it's a small gesture of
physical intimacy but a hug from your partner can help you through the most stressful moments
number seven thinking long term do some personality types find more success in
relationships according to a 2019 study from the journal of personality conscientiousness
plays a major role in your romantic success conscientiousness is one of the big five
personality traits if you're a conscientious person then you're responsible you're goal
oriented and you're industrious but how does your conscientious personality affect your love life
love is a long-term goal to fall in love you have to control your impulses you have
to take your time and you have to build a strong foundation so if you're impulsive
and short-sighted then there's a good chance your love isn't going to last
but if you're patient and reliable studies like this one say your love could go the distance
number eight social confidence do people get more attention when they're off the market
when you're happily in love you appear more attractive to others why because love gives
you a huge boost of social confidence when you're single you want to appear secure and attractive
you want to leave a good impression on others so you worry what potential partners think of you
when you're in love you don't care if some stranger finds you attractive
you're not nervous about saying the right thing or leaving a good impression you're self-assured and
socially confident and that confidence makes you more attractive number nine professional
success romance changes your personal life but it also affects your professional performance
in the early stages falling in love can interfere with your productivity
you spend more time thinking about your partner than your work but over time falling in love
facilitates your professional success on average love increases job satisfaction
people work harder and produce better quality work when their relationships are happy and stable
you can try to separate work and play but whether you like it or not love impacts everything you do
number 10 the makeup of love what emotions create the feeling of love love looks different in the
early and later stages of a relationship in the beginning love is exciting and euphoric
this passionate love consists of lust attraction and detachment but over time love becomes
comfortable trusting and emotional so the formula changes mature or lasting love is a combination of
attachment investment and intimacy now of course love isn't always limited to these combinations
sometimes unexpected emotions get wrapped up in the love you feel for your partner we may have
reduced love to a simple formula but at the end of the day everyone loves in their own unique way
number 11 intimate expression we love to be loved nothing lifts our spirits and warms our hearts
like the affections of a loved one but expressing love is just as powerful as receiving love
just imagine telling your partner that you love and appreciate them your gratitude is nourishing
the relationship but it also strengthens the love you feel for your partner express yourself early
and often because romantic expression will help your feelings grow number 12 the value of trust
love demands vulnerability and trust without trust love cannot exist but it takes time to
build that trust from the ground up in the early stages of any relationship you forego trust in
favor of passion and excitement but as your love deepens you want to share yourself with your
partner you want to experience emotional intimacy but what happens if you don't trust your partner
if your trust is shallow or broken you may never be vulnerable enough to fall in love
and that's why the most successful couples value honesty above all else number 13
monogamous animals most animals don't fall in love the way humans do but loving relationships
aren't unique to mankind many creatures in the animal kingdom share lifelong monogamous bonds
beavers build their habitats in pairs barn owls get married to their mates and swans
are one of the only bird species to take turns sitting on their eggs some people
say love is a human invention but one look at the animal kingdom suggests otherwise number 14
personal growth can falling in love change your personality according to a 2014 study from the
journal of personality love significantly impacts your attitude your confidence and your self-esteem
researchers compared the personalities of two groups of people one with romantic partners
and one without on average people in love were more confident than their counterparts
not only could they suppress their nerves but they also had higher self-esteem
and they held more optimistic views of the world around them in other words falling in love changes
your personality for the better so don't be surprised when love brings out the best in you
number 15 love and pain love can relieve stress but it's also a powerful painkiller
studies show that love provides significant relief for people with chronic pain
simple things like looking at a picture of a loved one can take their pain away but pain relief is
just one of the many interactions between love and pain scientists found for example that love
and pain stimulate the same regions of the brain these powerful emotions influence each other on
a regular basis when you've fallen for someone love can be a natural painkiller but when you've
lost someone it's the reason your heart hurts and your body aches love and pain may seem like polar
opposites like two vastly different experiences but no two emotions are more closely interwoven
number 16 lifestyle changes love can transform your lifestyle when you think about love you
concentrate on the relationship the bond you create with your partner but what about the
experiences you shared together what about the lessons you learned from your partner
from new interests to weird hobbies falling in love opens your eyes and expands your horizons
in other words you're immersing yourself in another person's world all right let's say your
partner loves a type of music that you've never heard before as you fall in love with your partner
you may fall in love with their interests too your preferences change over time because when you love
another person you love what they love so think back on the partners you've loved in your life
because those people affected the interests and passions that you have today hey thank you for
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