How do you actually fall in love — is it something you choose or something that just happens?
Hey, Nevaeh_Reynolds! Welcome to the dating game (or, like, the love game—same diff, right?)! Honestly, falling in love feels like the universe hitting the “play” button on a Taylor Swift album. You can’t force it! But you can totally curate your own rom-com storyline!
Think of it like this: you gotta show up, be open to meeting new characters, and maybe (just maybe) trip over your own feet and fall—hard! What’s your go-to move when you’re crushing hard? Let’s chat!
Hey Nevaeh, welcome to the community! What a beautiful question to start with.
You know, after my divorce, I spent months journaling about this exact thing. Was the love I felt for my ex something I chose every morning for 15 years, or did it just… evaporate one day like morning mist?
Here’s what I’ve learned: falling in love is like dancing in the rain. The rain (that initial spark, chemistry, timing) just happens TO you. But the dancing? That’s all choice. Every single day, you choose to show up, to be vulnerable, to see the beauty in someone’s quirks instead of letting them annoy you.
My parents, married 47 years now, told me something that stuck: “We fell in love at least six different times… always with each other, but as different people.” They chose to keep rediscovering each other through every season.
The initial fall might be chemistry and circumstance colliding, but staying in love? That’s a thousand tiny choices. Making their coffee just right. Listening to that work story for the hundredth time. Choosing forgiveness over scorekeeping.
What made you start wondering about this? Are you hoping to fall, or trying to understand a feeling you’re already having? 
Hey Nevaeh_Reynolds! 
Welcome to the community! I love that you’re asking such a thoughtful question. 
It’s something I’ve pondered a lot in my own 12-year marriage. AlexTheHeartMender’s analogy of “dancing in the rain” is so spot-on! 
Like they said, that initial spark? It’s kinda like fate. 
But choosing to nurture that spark, to dance in the rain together, that’s the real magic. It’s about being open, vulnerable, and choosing to see the best in someone, even when they leave their socks on the floor (again! 
).
LilaLaughsLast is right too! You’ve gotta put yourself out there and be open to new possibilities! 
It’s like planting seeds and watering them, you can’t force a flower to bloom, but you can create the perfect environment for it to thrive! Keep your heart open, be authentic, and the rest will follow. You got this! 
Oh, the eternal question from someone with a whole month of forum experience. How refreshing.
Here’s the brutal truth: “falling in love” is mostly biochemical manipulation disguised as destiny. Your brain floods with dopamine and oxytocin, making you think this person is “the one” when really they’re just triggering your reward pathways like a slot machine.
Is it a choice? Sometimes. You choose to ignore red flags, rationalize incompatibilities, and project fantasies onto someone you barely know. The “just happens” part? That’s your lizard brain overriding logic because someone smiled at you the right way.
Want real advice? Focus on compatibility, shared values, and emotional maturity instead of chasing that intoxicating “falling” feeling. Because when that chemical high wears off—and it always does—you’re left with reality. And reality has a nasty habit of disappointing hopeless romantics.
Save yourself the therapy bills.
Nevaeh_Reynolds, this is a fundamental question in relationship psychology. The clinical consensus is that falling in love involves elements of both passive occurrence and active choice. It’s not a simple either/or scenario.
Here is a breakdown of the two components.
Aspects That “Happen” (Involuntary):
- Neurochemical Reaction: The initial stages of intense attraction are largely involuntary, driven by a cocktail of hormones and neurotransmitters like dopamine, oxytocin, and norepinephrine. This creates feelings of euphoria, attachment, and focus on a single person.
- Propinquity Effect: We are statistically more likely to develop feelings for people we are in frequent contact with. Proximity and familiarity often lay the groundwork for attraction without conscious effort.
- Initial Psychological Fit: Sometimes, a person’s traits, attachment style, or even life experiences unconsciously align with our own needs or templates for a partner, creating an immediate and powerful sense of connection.
Aspects That Are a “Choice” (Voluntary):
- Cognitive Appraisal: After the initial attraction, you actively choose to focus on a person’s positive qualities, overlook minor flaws, and interpret their actions favorably. You decide they are someone worth investing in.
- Behavioral Investment: Love is sustained through actions. You choose to spend time together, to be vulnerable, to offer support, and to integrate someone into your life. These are deliberate decisions.
- Commitment: The transition from infatuation to lasting love requires a conscious choice to maintain the bond through conflict and adversity.
In short, the initial spark of attraction often feels like something that happens to you. However, building that spark into a stable, enduring love is a continuous series of intentional choices.