Dating can be pretty disheartening but it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of things you can learn to improve the dating game - although, that's a pretty poor choice of words. Honestly? The best dating happens when you don't treat it like a game at all.
You Can Be Yourself
There's so much pressure these days when it comes to meeting a new partner. We often feel like we have to put on a front because we know that people have high expectations. However, when people agree to go out on a date with us, chances are, they already have some idea of what we're like - and they like it. These days, most of us have our lives plastered all over social media, meaning that if they wanted some insight in the early days, they could get it with nothing more than a cheeky scroll. Even when you're meeting on one of the dating apps, like Badoo, you'd be surprised what someone could learn. There's a reason there's a chat function and not just pictures; people use such apps to get an idea of someone before they agree to meet. Just relax.
First Date Anxiety Is Normal
You might feel like you're a pathetic mess, freaking out over the first date, but you know what? He or she will most likely be super anxious, too! Even the most confident person probably has those fleeting moments where they get butterflies. Of course, if you're just looking for something casual, you'll have different kinds of nerves than when you're looking for something potentially long-term. Sometimes, it's not knowing what the other person wants that gives you fear in the first place.
There are plenty of ways that you can work through your first-date anxiety because, thankfully, half of the internet has been there.
You Are Worth It
We spend so much time thinking about whether we're good enough, that we often forget to think about whether that person is good enough for us! Sure, we're all initially attracted to looks or humour, but go beyond the superficial, and it's important to have similar goals, morals, or dreams as well. A healthy relationship is based on a combination of respect, understanding, and fun!
Of course, just because your life plans didn't align with the last person you were interested in, doesn't mean that this will happen again with the person you're into now. Perhaps things just didn't work out because you guys weren't compatible.
And, as they say, everything happens for a reason.