We all have made mistakes in our dating lives or relationships. Some of these mistakes have left us with feelings of regret that linger for years to come. After conducting some research, and pulling from my own experiences, I’ve compiled a list of the most common dating and relationship regrets that people have.
Settling for Second Best: Many people regret not settling down with their childhood sweetheart or first love from college. They often believe that there are plenty of other fish in the sea, but the truth is, not all of them will fit their taste or personality as well as their first love. Settling for second best can also be unfair to the other person because they will always be thinking about the one that got away.
Dating for the Wrong Reasons: Dating someone for the wrong reasons is a recipe for disaster. Some people date others because they are physically attractive, for business reasons, or even out of sympathy. It’s important to date someone because you genuinely like them and their personality is a match for yours. For example, a friend of mine dated a Muslim woman because she was pretty, but things didn’t work out due to cultural differences. If you know that a relationship won’t work, it’s better to not waste your time (or the time of the other person) on it.
Not Taking the Offer: People often regret not taking the opportunity for a date when it was offered to them. As the saying goes, “What if?”. For example, just imagine all the girls who turned down Bill Gates – or any other technology-focused guy. The bottom line is that giving the person a chance won’t hurt and you never know, you might hit it off.
Putting Career Ahead of Love Life: In today’s society, many 20-somethings prioritize their careers over their love life. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but as you get older, you may start to feel like something is missing. Age and other factors will eventually catch up with you, making you less attractive and good catches fewer. It is important to balance your career and social life, as having a love life can even inspire you to work harder.
Dating a Married Person: Dating a married person is a guaranteed disaster. Yep, I can speak from experience on this one. This type of relationship is built on deceit, lies, and cheating. The unmarried person will also be left with false hopes of a serious relationship with the married person. This kind of relationship will (almost) never work out and will always be filled with doubt and worry.
Leaving the Person You Love: It’s a common regret for people to leave the person they love for no apparent reason. If you love someone, why would you leave them? Infidelity is often the reason for the end of a relationship, but if you truly love someone, it’s important to be faithful.
Not Ending a Bad Relationship: People often regret not ending a bad relationship sooner. There might have been a time when there was someone better for you, but because you were in a bad relationship, you missed out on that opportunity. If you feel like you’re in the wrong situation, have the courage to end it. Yes, it’s painful – but you’ll be much better off in the medium and longer term, and free to find a much better partner who’s really into you and loves you unconditionally.
Being a Jerk in Your Relationship: People often regret not treating their partner with kindness and respect. If you treat your partner poorly, you will always wonder what could have happened if you had been nicer. To avoid this regret, try to be courteous, remember special dates, be kind, compromising, and spontaneous, and get something special for your partner. Don’t wait too long to change your ways, because you might regret it later. (Yes, even I admit I’ve been guilty of this on occasion). 🙁
Being Callous When Breaking Up: People regret being Dumping someone is never easy, and it can be tempting to take the easy road and be callous. But being kind and considerate to someone you’re ending a relationship with is the right thing to do. Whether you’re ending it because you’ve found someone else or simply because it’s not working out, being compassionate and understanding can go a long way in helping the other person heal and move on. And remember, karma has a way of finding you. If you treat someone poorly during a breakup, it’s likely that the same will be done to you in the future. So take the high road, be honest and direct, but also be respectful and considerate of the other person’s feelings. In the end, you’ll both come out of it with more dignity and a clearer conscience.
Dating Dave believes that you shouldn’t live your life with regrets. Go out there and make more positive choices! Don’t let your past define your future. Learn from your mistakes and move on.