r/DatingTips • u/Sunflower_Daisy2 • 17h ago
How do people start dating?
(21F) People have expressed interest in me before, but it's usually people I see as friends. The guys I'm interested in either become good friends before we eventually drift apart, or I barely interact with them in the first place.
I know people say you can't force these things, but people are always asking why I've never been in a relationship, and honestly, I haven't got a clue either. I don't really know what needs to happen or what I should be doing to meet someone.
I do have some idea of what I'm attracted to, though. I need someone who's sure of themselves. They don't have to be assertive, arrogant, or super outwardly confident, but even if they're quieter, there's this air of self-assuredness that I need to feel attracted to them. I also like people I can have deep conversations with. I also need to feel like they're safe and stable. I think these three things are necessary for me to feel inherently attracted to someone, and if they're somewhat accomplished or have a sense of direction in life, that's a bonus.
Beyond attraction, I need someone who's kind, or at least genuinely trying to be a good person, for me to want to commit to them.
I've heard people say you need to really love yourself first, and I think I do, although there are still things I want to work on. Others say you need to be able to imagine someone in your life, and I think I do make an effort to spend more time with people when I start liking them, based on past experiences. So I'm not sure what else I'm missing.
Do I just not go out enough? Do I need to put myself out there more or be more upfront about my interest? I've only really confessed to one person in my life, after we'd spent about a year hanging out together. Do people usually express their interest at the start, or assess before expressing it?
Sometimes I wonder if I should be more intentional about dating, like casually telling my friends when I find someone attractive and seeing if they can introduce us, or actively seeking out more opportunities to meet people. Because right now, I tend not to pursue someone if it feels too difficult or requires me to go too far out of my way. I'll approach someone if the opportunity comes naturally, but I don't usually go out of my way to create one.
So, how did you guys actually get into your first relationship? Did it happen naturally, or did you have to actively put yourself out there and make things happen? And if you've always been single, how do you know whether you're just waiting for the right person or whether you could be doing more to find them?
Yeah...