How to Create the Best Version of Yourself Before Dating

Being in a relationship has the potential to be awesome. You always have someone to cuddle up to when you are cold, you have a built-in best friend for movie nights and pool days, and you always have someone to talk to. But, a relationship is only as awesome as the people in it. Many times, a relationship will start out very positive and easy, which is commonly referred to as the “honeymoon stage.” As your relationship progresses, you will notice that it might get a bit more challenging. This is when relying on your strengths as an individual can definitely help out your relationship and trust me – it is not always a walk in the park. 

To navigate a successful relationship, you have to be a healthy partner and there is always room for improvement. While none of us are perfect, creating the best version of yourself before you get into a serious relationship can help you turn a potentially unhealthy relationship into a healthy one. You need to rely on skills such as communication, trust, and honesty, as well as quite a few others. If you work on these skills, as well as working on becoming the best version of yourself before getting into a relationship, it can definitely benefit your future relationship. Here’s how to create the best version of yourself before dating.

Develop Your Identity

Who are you and what are you passionate about? Before you jump into a serious relationship where you will focus so much on another person and/or the two of you together, you really need to develop your own identity and focus on just yourself first. Life is so short and pretending to be someone you are not is a waste of time because you will ultimately end up unhappy. The first step to being yourself is figuring out who you really are. What do you enjoy doing? What are your goals? Knowing who you are and what your passions and goals are in life when you jump into a relationship is essential. If you do not know what you want, it is way too easy to push any potential goals and dreams aside. Being yourself and honoring yourself enough to keep reaching for the stars can definitely help you avoid wasting time with the wrong partner.

Create Standards For Yourself – And Keep Them!

It’s easy to tell yourself that the reason you are single is that your standards are just too high, but do not fall for this mind game. You deserve the best and only the best – out of life and a partner. Being with someone who you are not compatible with just to be in a relationship will not make you any happier than being single. Try to remember that it’s not the Facebook relationship status that matters – it is how the relationship makes you feel. This is why it is important to set standards for yourself and keep them. No matter how “desperate” you feel for a date, do not let yourself navigate away from those standards. Always remember, you deserve the best.

Improve Your Communication Skills

Here’s the thing – a relationship is only as strong as your communication skills. If you cannot communicate effectively in other aspects of your life (with your parents, with your friends, at work, in school, etc.), then you more than likely would not be able to communicate properly with a significant other. If there is anything that makes or breaks a relationship, it is communication. Make sure you perfect these skills as much as possible before jumping into dating.

Manage Your Finances

Another thing that can wreak havoc on a relationship is financial issues. They say that there are two major things in life that couples fight over: finances and communication issues. A lot of the time, they go hand in hand. Before you jump into a long-term relationship, I highly recommend learning how to manage your finances properly – and getting ahold of them, if they are currently stressing you out. For example, if you have a lot of high-interest debt, consider finding ways to lower that to reduce your stress levels (it will also make your wallet happier and life easier). If you need help with this, find creative ways to make some extra cash such as getting a watch loan, or another collateral loan through Chapes-JPL, located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chapes-JPL was established in 1980 as an alternative to banks and traditional pawnbrokers. They provide low-interest, quick, and safe loans on many valuables and they service over 18,000 customers nationwide. Chapes-JPL says, “Since 1980, we’ve dominated our industry because of our commitment to our client’s financial success. Our clients choose us simply because of our determination to make every interaction prosperous for them. Unlike a typical pawnbroker, we’re in the business of assisting our clients when they need it the most. As evidence, we’ve refrained from selling pawned jewelry because we believe that would be in direct conflict with our mission. We’re not in the business of capitalizing on our client’s financial distress. Chapes-JPL is here to help.” 

Work On Your Overall Health

Your overall health is of utmost importance now and especially when you get into a relationship. Make sure you are focusing on not only your physical health but also your mental health, as well. For example, stress and unhealthy mind games (such as jealousy) definitely have the potential to ruin a great relationship. Learning about how you can manage your stress levels is very important when it comes to life in general, as well as relationship building.