4 Questions The Smartest Women Ask Themselves Before Even Considering Dating
Make sure you have a plan when you're looking for love.
Marco Testi on Unsplash Most women look for their epic love but don't show up on their ideal man's relationship radar. And there’s a very good reason for that.
If you are looking for an amazing man with all the qualities on your list, you need to ask yourself if you are currently the type of woman a man like that is looking for.
I see women daily who are bitter and angry, with toxic attitudes and several relationship coaches under their belts, who are still miserably single.
Is that really the kind of woman an awesome man is looking for? No.
But then, who is he looking for?
To get the man of your dreams, be the woman of his dreams
Here’s the deal. A man of your dreams is looking for a woman of his dreams, and you must be that before he will even notice you.
It’s like tuning into a radio station. If you are on different frequencies, he can’t see you. And you see everyone but him in your search, which makes you feel more hopeless and lonely.
Is your emotional life a royal mess? Do you lack self-confidence because of the heavy toxic baggage from past relationships you have in tow?
Are you experiencing stress over your lack of a good relationship, manifesting in your less-than-stellar physical health and weight?
Are negative social media comments that scream anger and insecurity part of your day?
Or maybe they are laced with unhappiness and despair?
It’s okay if you are a mess — just don't stay that way
We’ve all been there, done that, and have the t-shirt to prove it. You’re in good company.
And there are ways to get on track and become the woman you’re meant to be and rock your self-confidence much quicker than you think. You just have to own your messiness first, and then take action.
The first relationship to build before your date is the one with yourself.
You must become a complete package of confidence, fun, and happiness alone. And realize that "alone" and "lonely" are very different.
You can be happy when you are alone and still truly want a relationship. But loneliness is dangerous to any future relationship, in my experience.
It wreaks of desperation and the willingness to take the first guy to come along.
The awesome man of your dreams won’t be saying, “Oh, I want that deserted girl over there in the corner! She looks like a keeper.”
But an insecure narcissist or abusive man will … in a heartbeat.
Be your own best friend
When you can be your own best friend and have good girlfriends with healthy, positive attitudes, you are well on your way to attracting a magical romance with a man whose values you actually possess.
So, if you are looking for an epic love relationship, stop dating men.
Date yourself instead.
As women, we tend to ask more questions of a potential relationship prospect in the first three dates than we ask ourselves, ever.
No question a man ever asks you about yourself should leave you baffled. Having a healthy relationship with yourself means you have already asked yourself those same questions and know the answers before you begin to date.
Here are four powerful questions the smartest women ask themselves before even considering dating:
1. What are your values?
Do you currently possess them yourself, or do you let yourself off the hook but want them in other people?
If your life is already aligned with your values of integrity, fun, laughter, and passion, you are well on your way to meeting a guy with the same. If not, pay attention to whatever in your life doesn’t line up with your values.
Do you need to delete a toxic frenemy who throws you under the bus or is never there for you like you are for her? Do you need to change jobs to avoid the boss bully who makes you feel small but pays well?
2. What lights you up inside?
What is that thing that gets you on an emotional high even when the rest of your world crumbles around you?
If you don’t know yet, it’s going to be very difficult when the person you’re depending on to hold you up falls and needs your support.
So, ask yourself, “What is my go-to to get back on track and feel good quickly?”
Do you write down all the things you are grateful for, hike, run, pray? What is it?
3. How do you handle your own mistakes?
If you beat yourself up, you’re not ready for a healthy relationship with someone else yet because you don’t have the self-love that requires.
If, however, you learn the lesson, apologize when warranted (only when warranted as opposed to over-apologizing which screams insecurity), and move on stronger and stronger, you’re on your way!
Look at mistakes as win-or-learn rather than win-or-lose propositions.
Perspective is everything!
4. What are your dreams for your future?
Do you have a plan or are you in a holding pattern waiting to fit into your future man’s plan?
If you don’t direct your life to reach your full potential, other people will be happy to use you to reach theirs.
You deserve better. Know where you’re going with the willingness to change direction as long as your values stay intact and your life expands instead of contracts.
Embody the traits you're looking for in a man
While there are many more questions to ask yourself to get in touch with who you really are and what you want, these are a good start.
In a sense, what you are looking for in a man can be found first within you.
You both just need to be on the same energetic wavelength to see each other. Think of things you got years after you first started wanting them.
The ones you realize you were not ready for back then. It would have been a disaster. Timing is always perfect, you just may not know why what you want isn’t delivered on your preferred timeline, but you will.
It’s the lessons and the personal growth you need to have before that thing you want can be as successful.
Everything up to this point has created you to be ready for that epic love you so desire. Believe it.
You need to meet a man who mails thank you notes to your exes for letting you go so that he could have you. Because you are just that awesome!
Kelly Rudolph is a Certified Life Coach and Hypnotherapist who helps her clients manage stress and experience personal growth through greater confidence.