I said it before, and I will say it again. It takes time to fall in love with somebody. I’m a sucker for the idea of love at first sight, just like any other ’90s girl weaned on Disney Channel Original Movies, but the dating writer in me understands the distinction between love and desire. You can be extremely drawn to someone right away, but true love, faults and all, takes time. So, if you think your spouse is in love with you but not completely, it could be too soon.

There are several signals that your spouse is falling for you, even if they aren’t fully committed. I chatted with two relationship experts on the difference between being “in love” with someone and truly loving them, and their thoughts are fascinating. Remember that these five signals that your partner loves you but does not love you completely are not necessarily red flags. They just indicate that your connection still has the possibility to develop and your emotions have time to intensify.

“Love is a multifaceted emotional state that can grow over time-based on our personal growth, experiences with each other, and perspective on the world,” explains Jen Elmquist, MA, LMFT, relationship expert and co-host of Evine After Dark. “The process of supporting one another long-term, through ups and downs, often expands and secures our bonds of love.”

1. Everything still feels new and exciting. According to Emlquist “the early feel-good chemicals that are present when a couple falls ‘in love’ can last anywhere from six months to three years.” This psychological phase of falling in love is known as limerence and is akin to infatuation or obsession. She argues that limerence gives couples an extra lift in their relationship, allowing them to bond more effectively.

“After that time, if a secure attachment develops, the couple balances into a more stable, comfortable love state with one another,” Elmquist explains. So, if your relationship is still in its early stages, you and your partner may not have had enough time to progress to a more stable state.

2. They base their decisions on emotion rather than logic. “We often use the phrase ‘in love’ when we are talking about the initial emotional reaction of high desirability that comes in the early phase of a relationship,” Elmquist explains. “Loving someone becomes evident when our actions in a relationship supersede our emotions, meaning, even if I don’t feel ‘in love’ I will choose you, what is best for you, and what is best for us.”

If you believe your significant other makes reckless decisions based on their feelings for you, they are most likely in love with you, but not fully. They still want to be spontaneous and romantic, even if it doesn’t always go as planned.

3.There has not yet been an opportunity to build trust. Elmquist’s book, Relationship Reset, investigates four “attitudes” that must exist for a successful relationship to emerge. “Those are alignment, reciprocity, trust, and love,” she continues. “Love is supremely important for couples, but it needs to be supported by having each other’s backs, healthy give and take, and shared values to grow and survive long-term.”

Compromise is essential for developing trust between you and your significant other. If you haven’t been able to demonstrate to each other that you’re trustworthy because you haven’t had a major argument, you may still be in the “in love” stage of your relationship — which is fine.

4. They become jealous or possessive. “Love means that I genuinely care. I have a great deal of respect. I have a drive to defend. I see the depth, value, and truth of that individual, which I value. Kailen Rosenberg, a master certified love, life, and relationship coach, describes a sense of peace, knowing, and strength. “‘In love’ means they get your juices flowing, your hormones pumping, and your neurotransmitters vibrating.

There is a sense of attachment that can be accompanied by minor possessiveness, almost like a territorial attitude. When you are in love, jealousy can arise. You are doting and paying a lot of attention. They might appear to be on your mind more often. “It feels new, exciting, and vulnerable.” Rosenberg characterizes genuine, sincere love as having a more mature vibe. “‘In love’ is your teenage [and] college years,” she continues. “Love is [when] you have graduated to … Ph.D. level.”

5. They prioritize their own feelings over yours. According to Rosenberg, developing a deeper love for someone takes patience and self-awareness. True love, however, isn’t about you. It is what you offer the other person. “Real love demonstrates genuine care and concern for the person you love. “When you truly love someone, you will not forget what is important to them,” she explains.

“The experience of being ‘in love’ with someone is more self-centered. Truly loving is letting go of all the toxic, swirly crap that comes with being in love and reaching that deeper level. People want it so hard, but they believe they will never get there. But the good news is that they can,” explains Rosenberg. The small distinctions between being in love and loving someone might be bewildering. “Many people think being in love is healthier, deeper, and more meaningful than loving,” Rosenberg states. However, “love at its fullest is the most pure.” It does not require the higher energetic level of being ‘in love’ to be most profound and deep.”