Dating & Relationships

When my single friends or coaching clients ask me for feedback on their dating profiles, I often point out that they are selling themselves short. I know these people, either personally or through my work. I know that they are vibrant and colourful, or intuitive and intelligent, or funny and friendly, or supportive and kind, or generous and open-hearted, or, in many cases, all of the above. Yet this doesn’t come across in their profiles…

One of the things that frustrates people when dating is not knowing where they stand with someone. Sending out the right signals when dating is important; be it on your online dating profile, when you’re messaging or talking to someone, and even after you meet face to face. Have you stopped to think about the signals you’re giving out?

Getting to know someone is a time for fun, newness and adventure – but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Rather than feel pressured to spend money that’s needed elsewhere, get creative with some simple and fun cheap date ideas that can help to build your connection and make memories. Whether you’re meeting for the first time or looking for something to spend quality time together, read on to be inspired and get planning.

The dating world can sometimes be a minefield, and even more so if it’s your first time stepping out of your comfort zone to try to meet people. Dating itself can be very exciting; you get to meet new people, make friends and hopefully end up with the person you will spend the rest of your life with. Wouldn’t it be great along the way if everyone acted with courtesy and grace when dealing with each other on the dating scene? Here’s how you can be a blessing to others as you date.

During the dating process it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that every meaningful question and conversation about relationships should relate to romantic relationships. In fact, learning how someone interacts with and treats other people in their life can be revealing – and a lot less pressure! Rather than jump in with direct questions about previous relationships and hopes for future romance, why not ask instead about other connections – and of course, be prepared to answer similar questions too!

Once you start to move past the introductions and icebreakers, you’ll want to know someone more deeply – you’ll need to know about their values. Going beyond the superficial, these are the things that determine how someone really lives their life. Rather than ask outright about values, entering into a conversation about real choices and experiences can be revealing and feels more natural. Here are seven questions that help you ask a date about their values.

Looking for a partner who shares your faith is of key importance for Christian Connection members. But how can the reality of lived faith come out through dating conversation? Being able to repeat the story of how you became a Christian might be helpful, but how can you go deeper into how you experience your faith every day? Here are some conversation starters to help you to ask about and talk about your faith when you’re getting to know someone.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the simplest questions could get us the answers we need? Or if we could answer a question about our hopes, what motivates us, or who we care about in a way that doesn’t sound like a cliché? Often if we’re asked about our values, our priorities, relationships, faith and anything that goes deeper than our favourite burger, conversational stage fright can set in. Or we can be so well prepared with a ‘good’ answer, we might not stop to reflect on whether things have changed or we’re being as open as we could be. Here are nine low pressure date questions to take a conversation deeper without awkwardness…