Top 10 Dating Mistakes
1. Game playing:
This strategy is usually employed for one
of two reasons. The first is to protect one's ego. When it comes to dating,
everyone, on some level,
fears rejection. Playing it cool and not
getting too involved may make you feel safe, but you risk coming across as
aloof or remote, and may
turn the other person off. Balance
between demonstrating interest and maintaining your composure is best. Another
reason people play
games is to get something you want that
you wouldn't likely get if you played it straight. For example, telling someone
you love him or her so
they will sleep with you, and then not
calling them again. This form of manipulation is simply unacceptable (to put it
mildly), and does not
lead to healthy relationships. You will
get further in less time in finding a relationship if you allow yourself to be
genuine. It's OK to put your
best foot forward, and also to be a bit
cautious, but have the courage to be upfront and show who you are.
2. Talking too much about your ex:
While this information will eventually be
shared at least to some extent, it shouldn't be discussed in detail during the
initial phase of a
relationship. You want to get to know the
person and each have a chance for a fresh start. Carrying old baggage into a
new relationship
amounts to clutter. If you have baggage,
then best to work it out in individual therapy before pursuing a new
relationship, at least to a point
where it isn't affecting your reactions
and clouding your judgment.
3. Fantasizing about the future:
While men are typically (not always) the
masters of game playing, women have this one down pat. When you catch yourself
trying on his last
name before the third date, it's time to
remind yourself to slow down. In the first 3-6 months of a relationship, you
are likely running on
oxytocin, which is a chemical found in
chocolate. It creates the sense of well-being and euphoria that comes with
“falling in love.” This might
as well be dubbed the period of temporary
insanity, because you are not in command of all your faculties; your brain is
hijacked by those
lovely chemicals, interfering with your
ability to think clearly. Until you have time to really get to know someone,
and see him or her in a wide
range of situations, it is helpful to not
get ahead of yourself; don't strongly attach to some illusion that you have
created about the person.
This can lead to pitfalls of setting up
unrealistic expectations and subsequent disillusionment, or depression if the
relationship doesn't work
out.
4. Obsessing over details:
This one is common with those who worry.
The worry may be a general habit, but now it is turned on the subject of the
relationship: worry
about what the other person said, worry
about what they meant by it, worry about how you reacted, worry about the
relationship not working
out, worry about what if it does work
out, how will your parents react…on and on. Being anxious is a mood killer, and
will not make you
attractive to a potential mate. But don't
go worrying about that!Try to tap into your self-confidence and trust that if
the relationship is meant
to work out, it will.
5. Ignoring red flags:
If someone doesn't show up when you’re
supposed to meet, that's a red flag. If they don’t let you call them at home,
yep, red flag. If they
kick their dog, bingo, red flag. Of
course, there are more subtle warnings that one may be tempted to overlook,
especially if one is eager for
the relationship to work out. While one
shouldn't jump to conclusions without sufficient evidence on the first problem
that arises, an emerging
pattern is not something to make excuses
for or brush under the rug. Address these problems early, and don't waste your
time.
6. Interrogating your date:
“How many children do you want” is not a
good opening sentence. You want to show interest by asking about their likes or
dislikes, but not
press someone for information. Let things
evolve a bit, as you get to know someone. Patience and restraint are required
here, even though
you may feel pressed for time. Do your
best to relax and have fun.
7. Avoidance of intimacy:
While this one is traditionally men's
domain, women are quickly catching up in the fear of commitment zone. Modern
society imposes so many
requirements and expectations on what
makes for a “good catch,” and that makes it hard to sort through whether
someone would be a good
choice for us. We don't want to “settle,”
and the quest for the perfect mate can cause us to overlook or undervalue a truly
good partner.
Alternatively, we might be so fearful of
getting hurt, betrayed or rejected, that we exit stage left just as the play
gets going. If fear of
commitment is an obstacle, better to work
out your patterns (or schemas) in therapy than in your relationships.
8. Rush in, rush out:
Are you reckless in love? Do you plunge
into the deep end, only to find that the water is way too cold? Then this one's
for you. Getting overly
involved too soon is a big red flag. If
you do it, then you need to pace yourself, and be more considerate of the other
person, who you are
probably leading on. If you fall for
those who do it, then you need to slow things down and not get taken for a ride
(or pursue a different
type!).
9. Not being honest about your needs:
Pretending everything is OK can work for
only so long. Assertiveness is a golden skill for those who are ready for a
mature relationship.
Unless you can ascertain and directly
communicate your needs (by being clear and specific), then you are basically
operating on a child level.
While many people get by this way, it is
not very effective, and puts you at a disadvantage when you are trying to get
your needs met.
Assertiveness is not to be confused with
being bossy or demanding. Being tactful and direct is the quickest path to
relationship success.
10. Sacrificing too much to get the
relationship:
If you find that you are doing things you
would not otherwise do to get someone's attention, like bending over backwards
and injuring your
spine in the process, then you are
entering the land of the doormats. Often people tend to do this if there is a
problem with low self-esteem.
Valuing yourself enough to put your needs
on the table as well as the other person's is key in establishing balance and
harmony. A healthy
relationship is one between two equals,
both giving and receiving in reciprocal fashion.
If you find that you are in a
relationship that has a lot of benefits but there are some kinks that need to
be addressed, best to discover
effective ways of handling these conflicts
early on. Relationship coaching or couples therapy can help you learn how to
better manage
problematic issues so that they are no
longer impinging on the health and happiness of your relationship.
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