Avoid These Four Common Dating Mistakes

Whether you are recently single and just entering the dating game, or are a seasoned veteran on the dating scene, and wondering why you are not having much success meeting a partner to start a long-term relationship with, your lack of success may be due to a few common mistakes, rather than "the good ones" being taken. Not leaving enough to the imagination, not saying what you want out of a relationship, not letting go of the past and comparing your potential partner to past partners can result in a short-lived relationship, or one that does not get the chance to start at all.

Mistake 1: Not leaving enough to the imaginationI am sure you have heard time and time again that it is best to leave something to the imagination in regards to your attire when searching for a mate or on a date, but the same rule holds true for your conversation as well. Disclosing too much too soon can be detrimental to any budding relationship, and scare off a potential mate. Exactly what defines "too much information" is completely subjective, but just look at it this way: dating and getting to know someone is an organic process. Treating a date like a job interview, giving a detailed outline of your life from beginning to current, may send your potential date on information overload. Your date probably would rather hear about the last good book you read rather than your awkward teen years. If the relationship lasts long enough, they will probably hear that story at a family gathering anyways.

Mistake 2: Not saying what you want out of a relationshipWhile it is definitely not a good idea to tell someone that you are ready for marriage, kids, a dog and a picket fence on a first date, it is also not a good idea to leave your potential mate guessing what your intentions are. If you are a casual dater and are just looking for someone to have a good time with every now and then, that is perfectly fine. If you have been single for a while and are ready to start a more serious relationship (with the right person), that is also perfectly fine. However, a casual dater is definitely not a good match for someone who is looking for something more serious. So rather than wasting each other's time, its best to disclose what you are looking for fairly quickly in the courtship. Even if two people have an extraordinary connection, the relationship will be doomed from the beginning if the two people are in different dating stages.

Mistake 3: Not letting go of the pastFor those of you who are in a relationship, not letting go of the past can quickly turn the tables and result in you being single again. If you have reunited with a long-lost love, or made up with your partner after an argument or an on-going dispute, try your best to let go of the past. Letting go of the past does not mean that you let your partner walk all over you, or totally forget what may have transpired between the two of you. But it does mean that if the two of you choose to work things out, you must be committed to starting anew. Resist the urge to bring up past transgressions every time you get in an argument. If you have chosen to forgive your partner, that forgiveness means you will not throw their mistakes in their face at every opportune moment. If you cannot let go of the past, it may be time to move on.

Mistake 4: Comparing your partner to past partnersComparing your current or potential partner to your past partners may seem like an obvious no-no. However, many people do this subconsciously. It is human nature to forget the bad aspects of a relationship overtime. So when things get a little rocky in your new relationship, it is natural to reminisce about a past love. Whenever you catch yourself daydreaming of a past love when you are experiencing a little turbulence in your current relationship, try to remember why the past relationship did not work out, and do not forget about the reasons why you are with your current partner.