You date — but it always ends in disappointment, frustrations, or downright heartbreak.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
If you hope to find love dating, you need to know the rules. These aren’t rules for playing games or being manipulative.
These are rules for finding honest love – the kind that lasts.
You see, not all dating is created equal. Some people date for fun. Others date to find that missing part of themselves and really don’t know what they’re looking for.
But if you’re looking for love while dating, then you need to know a few things.
These are the rules for finding love while dating.
Unpack Your Baggage
The first step to finding love is to be sure you’ve already worked through any lingering issues from a previous relationship. You want to be sure that you don’t take any “baggage” into your next relationship that could sabotage your chance to be happy.
A lot of people think you can skip this step. But you’re not looking for a rebound romance to lick your wounds. If you’re looking for love, then you’re already healed and looking for a partner.
So, unpack the baggage so you can start fresh with someone new.
Know Yourself
Some people try to figure themselves out as they date people. The problem with that is if you don’t know yourself, you can’t know who is right for you.
You’ll have one relationship after another that just doesn’t work. Maybe it’s no one’s fault it doesn’t work, but it’s never right.
Once you know yourself, you’ll know what you need.
Know What You Need
Knowing what you need from a relationship is as critical as knowing yourself.
Some people have no idea what they need. They treat dating as a process of elimination game for what they do and don’t like.
Then, as each relationship inexplicably burns out, they’re hurt, disappointed, or worse.
But if you know you need a strong partner to help you be your best, you won’t date someone too laid back to support your dreams.
Or, if you’re a rigid person who needs someone to help them understand getting the most out of life, then you know you need someone who’ll inspire you to relax and find joy.
Accept Your Flaws
The Japanese say that the beauty in perfection is the flaw. Some of their most historic art has one deliberate mistake in it.
They realize that true perfection is a myth and that reality is truly beautiful.
That’s the best advice when it comes to your own flaws, too. You don’t have to be perfect to find love – you just have to be yourself.
If you find love, they’ll need to be able to live with all of you, not just your good parts. And it’s better that they not be surprised after the honeymoon…
So, while you should continue to work on your flaws, you still need to own them in a relationship.
Understand Your Limits
Just like you need to understand your own flaws, your partner isn’t going to be perfect either. So, you need to know what you can accept in a relationship.
If you’re a person who must have a neat environment, you know you won’t be happy to live with someone who isn’t concerned about dropping laundry around.
Can you cope with someone who thinks a few minutes late is the same as being on time?
When you love someone, you don’t have to love their bad habits, but you’ll need to live with them. Know what you can live with before you get too far into a relationship.
Be Honest About Everything
Relationships are built on trust. While you shouldn’t put your entire life story out there on the first date, you do need to be honest when you tell them anything about yourself.
Honesty applies to it all… the dating profiles you create, any first dates you take, and any conversation you have with a professional matchmaker.
Don’t answer a question with what you think the person wants to hear.
If you want to find love when you date, honesty is the ultimate key to finding the right person. It’s the way you avoid wasting your time trying to fit an image you think they’re hoping to see.
