The feeling of romantic love is unmatched.

But not just any ordinary old love.

The storybook-worthy version is much more alluring to a hopeless romantic.

Acamea Deadwiler, M.S.

Here’s what that means and how it can affect your dating life.

What is a hopeless romantic?

A hopeless romantic maintains a utopian, sentimental perspective on love regardless of negative past experiences or contrasting information.

The term “hopeless” signifies their defiant willingness to hold this view no matter what contradicting circumstances arise.

There is emotional investment from day one.

It may sound wonderful to fall in love with ease and always have a favorable view of relationships.

That’s certainly more productive than a negative approach.

However, reality rarely matches our fantasies, which is where hopeless romantics may struggle.

Signs you might be a hopeless romantic.

To address the situation, you first need to identify yourself as belonging to this group of eternal optimists.

Signs that maybe this person isn’t the best mate for you are always there.

You just overlook potential issues until the euphoria dissipates enough for you to see a clearer picture.

It’s hard to spot red flags through rose-colored glasses.

But ignoring a problem doesn’t make it disappear.

Soon you’re unable to look the other way.

You fall for people fast and hard.

It’s about adding the missing piece to your predetermined puzzle.

(you’re able to read more about the difference between infatuation and real lovehere.)

When you idealize your significant other, you don’t see them as they are.

You see them as you want them to be.

You daydream (a lot) about love and marriage.

Many people might anticipate where they’d like to get married or their potential wedding song.

Love bombing is a frequent occurrence.

Hopeless romantics are prone to finding themselves intoxic relationships.

“This is because the beginning of a toxic relationship often involveslove bombing,” Allen says.

That is until you realize you’re not in the relationship you imagined and bounce.

Once the spark is gone, so are you.

Other times, you’re the one who’s bombed.

You find yourself in one-sided relationships.

Relationships aren’t always a 50/50 give and take.

Sometimes it’s 60/40 or 70/30.

That could mean your feelings and subsequent actions are a bit hasty.

Or you’re trying too hard to materialize your vision.

(Here’s how to know if you’re in aone-sided relationship, FYI.)

Nothing else matters.

Is it always bad to be a hopeless romantic?

“The problem with being a hopeless romantic comes from a lack of awareness of being one.

“It feels like they’re losing a big part of themselves during the breakup.

The split is a far fall from idealistic love they may wish to avoid.

Jackson adds that the situation becomes a serious issue when hopeless romantics struggle with navigating conflict.

But they don’t alter their concept of love.

So the cycle continues to repeat itself.

In other words, hopeless romantics can set themselves up for disappointment.

But that isn’t to say that hopeless romantics can’t eventually find what they’re looking for.

Level of cognizance is the key factor in determining whether this outlook on love renders negative or positive results.

And importantly, you canbe a romanticwithout being hopeless.

The bottom line.

Being a hopeless romantic isn’t an innate shortcoming.

It’s what you do with the knowledge that makes all the difference.