How do you know if you like the person, or just the idea of being in a relationship?

I’ve been reflecting on my dating patterns and realized something, when I match with a guy who isn’t a total weirdo and seems decent, I tend to put my energy and feelings into it right away and try to make it work.

It makes me wonder: am I truly filtering for what I actually want in a partner, or am I just pursuing a relationship in general, regardless of whether that specific person is a real match for me?

For example, I recently connected with someone I really liked, but he dropped off after realizing we weren’t a match for him. It made me think, he seemed clear about what he was looking for, while I might be more willing to adapt and “see where it goes” even if we’re not truly aligned.

Has anyone else gone through this? How do you tell if you’re genuinely attracted to them as a person, versus just wanting the relationship experience?