Zoom Out and See Love Clearly
A reflection on what real love looks like
Love feels powerful.
It lifts you up.
Sometimes it blinds you.
Sometimes it helps you grow.
But not everything that feels like love is actually love.
When you’re young, love can seem like fast messages, big promises, or butterflies that come out of nowhere.
It might look like someone always needing you, or someone who shows up only when it suits them.
So how can you tell the difference
What’s real
What’s not
What’s love and what’s just a feeling dressed up as love
This is something I learned from experience
Not from books
But from long nights and quiet goodbyes
You understand love better when you take a step back and look at the full picture
When you zoom out
You stop focusing only on the moment
You notice patterns
Do they show up when things get tough
Do they support your growth or feel insecure about it
Do their actions match their words
Fake love moves too fast
It tries to be everything right away
It skips the hard questions
It wants you to feel deeply, but not think clearly
Real love gives space
It lets you grow
It allows you to fall and get back up
It makes you stronger, not tired
If you have to hide parts of yourself to be accepted
That’s not love
That’s pretending
If you feel more anxious than peaceful
That’s not love
That’s confusion
If you keep making excuses for their silence or lack of care
You might be holding on to hope
But hope without truth can break you
So take a step back
Ask yourself
Do they love you as you are, or only when you fit their expectations
Do they support your silence, your dreams, your rough days
Can you speak up and still feel safe
Can you cry without feeling judged
Real love listens
Even when it’s hard
It forgives, but also sets boundaries
It stays, not just when you’re easy to love, but when you’re being your real self
To anyone figuring out love
Yes, fall in love
But take your time
Choose someone who brings you peace, not stress
Someone who tells the truth, not just what you want to hear
Someone who sees your depth, not just your looks or charm
Love isn’t about how fast it begins
It’s about how steady it stands
It’s not about being completed
It’s about being accepted and understood
So zoom out
Look again
And choose the kind of love that sees all of you
