Stop right there. Now, that doesn’t mean you’ll never have to make another compromise. But it does mean that you should never abandon yourself to please another. It’s human nature to fear the unknown and fear being left alone. But, sweet friend, it’s not your partner’s fault if your needs aren’t being met. It’s yours. Responsibility and accountability are yours to wield. Communicate your needs and choose someone who respects, enjoys and loves you. You must practice getting comfortable with the unknown and with letting go of toxic relationships. You must trust that you can co-create and design the life of your dreams, not by changing to satisfy others, but by embracing love and delving into deeper integrity. Want to date better and find someone who’s as amazing are you are? Follow these three tips.
- Practice self-care and self-love. You won’t find a calm, centered, happy partner when you’re frazzled and wound up. You won’t land that confident, loving guy when you’re fraught with self-doubt and anxiety. Spend some time working on yourself and cleaning up your side of the proverbial street, and you’ll be much more likely to find someone who’s also balanced and self-aware. Don’t worry about cultivating a six-pack or getting an MBA if you’re not into that. Just focus on becoming the best possible version of you and loving who you are.
- Express your needs Some people like to text every day. Some people need a lot of alone time. Some people want their partner to plan exciting dates. All of these needs are equally legitimate. But your partner will never know what your needs are if you don’t tell him. You don’t need to open a first date with a checklist, but once things are clicking along, it’s OK to say, “I want you to feel loved and appreciated. How can I do that?” and when you’ve heard her suggestions, you can share yours. When she does what you asked for? Lots and lots of acknowledgement and appreciation.
- Don’t settle; set a higher standard for who you date Dating can be exhausting and demoralizing. I know. (I really, really know.) And I know it can be tempting to date that Really Nice Person Who Likes You. But please, hold out for the person who gives you what you need. No more dating that hot guy who cancels at the last minute. Or the sweet girl who hates her job and is buried in credit card debt. Or that cutie who’s super negative and says snarky things about everything and everyone. Time and time again, I’ve seen my clients struggle through subpar relationships. Eventually, after heartbreak and hassle, they find their person, and every single time, they say, “I didn’t know it could be this good! I want to shout from the mountain tops! I wish I could convince my friends that they don’t need to put up with that foolishness. They deserve so much better!” He’s out there. She’s waiting for you. And you’re wasting time with that cutie who isn’t right for you. And you know it. Of course in any relationship we have to compromise and find a middle ground. But please yourself first and then you will attract someone who is pleased with you. This means embracing the unknown and being OK with letting go of something or someone who isn’t meeting your needs. Ask yourself this question: “If I weren’t afraid, what would I do?” Dowling has spent years helping people live richer, more joyful lives. She has seen firsthand the magical pairing of psychology and life coaching, which allows people to access their happiest selves.
