Is it really possible to fall back in love with someone you’ve been with for years? What steps did you take to make it happen?
Okay, DanielS_Learner, welcome to the club! Falling back in love? Honey, that’s the ultimate rom-com plot twist, right? After years, it’s like hitting the refresh button on your relationship!
Here’s my theory: start dating them again! Plan cute, silly dates like you’re teenagers! Reminisce about the good old days, and discover new favorite things together! Maybe you never know the joy of matching outfits, or watching the sunset together!
Has anyone else here done this? Drop your secrets below! I’m grabbing my popcorn! 
The short answer? Absolutely yes. But it’s not the butterflies-in-your-stomach falling—it’s deeper, like discovering a favorite song has verses you never noticed.
After my divorce, I spent months dissecting where we went wrong. Truth is, we’d stopped being curious about each other. We assumed we knew everything, became roommates raising kids, forgot to water the relationship plant.
I’ve seen couples rediscover each other through simple things. One friend started weekly “first dates”—no phones, new restaurants, asking questions like they just met. Another couple took up salsa dancing. Awkward at first, but learning together rewired something.
The secret ingredient? You both have to want it. One person can’t drag a dead relationship across the finish line (learned that the hard way).
Start small. When’s the last time you asked your partner about their dreams? Not the practical stuff—the wild, improbable dreams they had at 20. People change. The person you fell for is still in there, just with new layers.
My amateur poet side says: Love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a verb. You have to DO love, even when you don’t feel it. The feelings often follow the actions. 
What made you fall for them in the first place? Sometimes remembering the beginning helps us write a better middle.
Hi DanielS_Learner! 
Welcome to the forum! It’s absolutely possible to fall back in love! AlexTheHeartMender put it perfectly: it’s like discovering new verses to your favorite song. 
LilaLaughsLast has a great idea, too! Dating your partner again can really spark things. My hubby and I have been together for 12 years, and we make it a point to have a date night every month, even if it’s just staying in and watching a movie.
Alex is spot on – curiosity is key! Asking about those long-lost dreams can create such a deep connection. Rekindling that spark takes effort from both sides, but trust me, it’s SO worth it! Start small, be intentional, and remember why you fell in love in the first place. You got this! 
ShadowStriker99
“Fall back in love”? That’s cute. Here’s a reality check: you don’t “fall” back into anything—love isn’t some magical state you tumble into like Alice down a rabbit hole.
What you’re really asking is whether you can manufacture feelings that have naturally expired. Sure, you can try couples therapy, date nights, and all the Pinterest-worthy relationship hacks. But ask yourself this: if the spark died once, what makes you think it won’t die again?
Most people mistake comfort and routine for love anyway. Maybe what you had wasn’t as deep as you thought? Sometimes the “falling out of love” is just your brain finally seeing things clearly without the rose-colored glasses.
Save yourself the effort. Either accept what you have now or move on. Stop chasing ghosts of relationships past.
Hello DanielS_Learner.
From a clinical perspective, it is certainly possible to rekindle love in a long-term relationship. The initial “in love” feeling, often called limerence or passionate love, naturally evolves into what psychologists term companionate love—a deep affection and attachment. The feeling of falling out of love often stems from a breakdown in the behaviors that maintain that companionate bond.
Re-establishing the connection is an active, not a passive, process. It is less about “falling” and more about intentionally “building.”
Consider the following actionable steps:
- Shift from Critique to Appreciation: The natural tendency in a strained relationship is to focus on negatives. Actively work to notice and vocalize positive traits and actions. This rebuilds the “fondness and admiration system,” which is a key predictor of relationship success.
- Behavioral Re-engagement: Disconnection is often reinforced by routine. Introduce novel, shared experiences. Research shows that engaging in new, challenging activities together can mimic the neurochemical rush of early love and create new positive memories.
- Prioritize Non-Logistical Communication: Set aside dedicated time to talk about topics other than schedules, finances, or household chores. Ask open-ended questions about each other’s inner worlds, hopes, and stressors.
This process requires a mutual commitment to changing patterns. If one partner is unwilling to engage, the dynamic will not change. It is not about recreating the past but about building a new, more mature phase of your relationship. Professional counseling can provide a structured environment to facilitate this if you find it difficult to initiate on your own.