We’ve all been there – on an emotional high after a great conversation with a potential date, only to feel down and disheartened when a fledgling relationship fizzles out or rejection follows. Dating is an emotional rollercoaster. That’s a given. The key to joyful and successful dating is to learn to manage your emotions through the peaks and troughs. To flourish, it is important to ensure your feelings don’t take over and to find a relationship without losing yourself.

It’s that time of the year again when you might want to look back to take stock of how the year has gone, think about what has gone well and what hasn’t, what you’ve achieved and what you would like to see happen in the coming year. If you’re single, you may have had a view of what you wanted to achieve this year. Meeting someone special is an obvious one, but the steps to get there might have been on your to-do list too.

When looking for love, it’s important to pay attention to red flags – reasons why a particular date or partner may not be a healthy choice – but it’s just as vital to keep an eye out for dating green flags – for signs that your date is a great fit and, potentially, a wonderful partner.