People want a lot of things in the new year...better jobs, better pay, better bodies...but what about better dates?
Let's face it - meeting a date in person after meeting them online doesn't always go the way we plan. They're too tall, they're too short, they're too young, they're too old, they wore the wrong thing, they have the wrong job, or they're just plain boring...and then we feel obligated to sit through the interminable dinner or cup of coffee with someone we're not interested in out of politeness. Every online dater has had wasted dates, but you don't have to have wasted dates anymore.
Here are four things you can do to have better dates in 2012, even if you don't find yourself doing dinner and a movie with the guy or gal of your dreams:
Stop worrying about whether or not they'll like you. Instead of stressing out over what your date will think of you, ask yourself the opposite question: Will I like my date? That way you won't be trying to read your date's mind, you won't stress out over something that's not in your control anyway, and you'll stay focused on whether or not you want to see your date again, which is what really matters in the long run.
Focus on the positives. You won't click with every person you meet, but that's ok. Enjoy the experience for what it is – a chance to get to know someone new – and focus on the positives. Find three things you genuinely like about the other person, like their sense of style, beautiful eyes, or professional ambition, and compliment them sincerely.
Let go of expectations. Don't let it ruin your day if your date doesn't appear to be your soulmate within ten minutes of meeting them. Relax and open your mind to experiencing whatever happens. Even if you don't want to pursue a romantic relationship with your date, it may turn into something else fruitful like a friendship or a business contact.
Think of it as an opportunity. So your date didn't work out this time, but it was still a valuable learning experience. Practice your conversation skills and think about what you can learn from this experience that might help you choose better dates in the future. What did it teach you about dating? About men and women? About yourself?
And remember: every date that's wrong for you leads you one step closer to the date that's right for you. Put your head in the right place and 2012 can be a year that's bad-date-free.
Tag: dating