Are you ready, willing, and able to start dating?
If you are seeking companionship it can be tough to meet people who are available and open to a relationship. Online dating and matchmaking can be a good way for you to find the right kind of people who are seeking the same type of relationship you are. However, you need to be sure you are ready. You need to make sure there is time in your life for a significant other, and you need to be sure you are as willing to give affection and attention as you are to receive it from someone.

Check your self-confidence
How much do you really appreciate and like yourself? You will only attract people who reflect how you feel about yourself. If you believe that you are not really anything special, you will draw people to you who will ultimately reinforce that belief. If you need help with your self-confidence, make a list of all of the great things about you and the reasons you would make a good partner for someone. Are you kind? Compassionate? Loyal? A great listener or a great cook? Do you give awesome massages? If you need to, read your list every day and soon you will start to see yourself as a real catch!

What message does your body language convey?
You may feel like you’re ready to date, but you will communicate your readiness with your body language. Others will ultimately judge your approachability by how you present yourself. If you, for instance, tend to keep your head down or refuse to meet others’ gaze, you will not come across as particularly confident. People might not see you as someone who believes they deserve love, and will treat you accordingly. If your arms are frequently crossed, you will not come across as friendly or open, instead you will be communicating that you desire to keep people at a distance. To improve your body language, try to pay attention to the way you are positioning yourself when you’re out. What signals do you think you’re sending? If you were observing someone who carried themselves the way you do, what assumptions would you make about them? Keep your head up. Meet people’s gazes. Don’t be afraid to show genuine interest in people. What’s the worst that could happen?

Keep a sense of proportion—and humour!
Often when dating, because it requires us to be vulnerable to a certain extent, people tend to make more out of situations and interactions and attach meanings to them that they don’t necessarily have. A first date, even a great first date, is usually just that. It doesn’t mean the person is “the one” or even that they’re going to see you again. Take it for what it was, an enjoyable time that you shared with another person. Laugh it off if you need to. See each interaction as just another step in your journey. If you are able to be in the moment and enjoy what is coming to you without putting too many expectations on it, dating will be a lot more fun. The more relaxed you are about the process, the easier it is for real love to find you.

Coping with rejection
Sooner or later everyone is going to experience rejection. It’s important not to take it too personally. You just may not have been what the person was looking for. That’s not a reflection of your worthiness as a potential partner for someone. Being rejected by someone has a positive aspect to it as well, because it helps free you up to spend time with people who are better suited to you.