One man proposes and says "I want to marry you because you’re better than every other woman I've dated". Another man proposes and says "I want to marry you because you're essential to me, and I can't imagine living without you."
I see at least two ways to think about choosing a partner and loving others. There's one way, the one that I think is most common in my circles, and it sounds like "finding the best partner".
Thinking in this mindset this has been my first reaction for a long time, but it no longer makes sense to me:
I think about my mom. I love my mom because she's essential to me, not because of an assessment that she's "better than every other mom I could have". (What could that even mean?)
Similarly, I love my dog as he is, and not because he's "the best dog".
Or, my closest friends. For example, Valerie is by no means the "best friend I could have". Really, by her own admission, she’s not. But I love her regardless.
Moreover, I can't know that the woman I choose to marry/ the dog I watch/ the friends I have are optimal for me. And, probabilistically, I doubt that they are! But I still love them.
To love without comparison.
To love because they're essential to me.
Something good about this but also the 2nd sentiment can easily come from someone who is infatuated and insecurely obsessed. A stable commitment is, as far as I can tell, made out of the recognition that THIS is worth betting on, given everything else you know about the world.
Source: had a first marriage. Just got married a 2nd time and everybody who was there seems to think I know what I'm doing (I know better, but I'm pretty sure I know enough.)
But then ONCE you've committed, then HARD YES. That person becomes essential, and is not to be compared to other people (but perhaps still compared: to the moon, or to goddesses, or to songs).
I reverse engineer love by looking inwards how I feel about my dog - she isn't the "most obedient", but she is essential