What exactly is a dating Deal Breaker? These are the qualities a man either has or comes with that you can't tolerate in your life. Or conversely, they are qualities a man MUST HAVE in order to date you, such as the same religion or culture.
Men also have Deal Breakers when it comes to dating you. But the difference between the sexes is men honor their Deal Breakers. You'll see this when a man is in a relationship with a woman for years and years, and yet he won't marry her.
In his mind, she has a Deal Breaker that isn't suitable for marriage.
We as women have a tendency not to honor our Deal Breakers when it comes to men. We think with a little work and a lot of love, we can change him and all will be well in our world.
This just isn't true. Men don't change unless they want to change.
You might say, "But I love him so much." If this is the case, and he has one of your Deal Breakers, you aren't honoring yourself and you will be settling.
So many women choose to settle... They're afraid no one out there is as good as this man -- a man who has one of their Deal Breakers going on in his life.
This is an illusion. Your mind is playing tricks on you. All it does is take you to a place of scarcity when it comes to men. And with our age group leading the pack with the highest divorce rate of any generation these days, there is actually an abundance of men out there for you to date.
All you have to do is go to a mainstream dating website like Match.com and you'll see thousands of men right in your area looking for a woman just like you, if you're willing to give him a chance.
- Pets -- If you have a beloved Levi in your life like I do, then you'll want a man who'll treasure your puppy or kitten as much as you do.
For me, it became a major DEAL BREAKER for future relationships. Regardless of what he did, he still smelled like smoke and I can't seem to tolerate that smell.
Take some time to clear your head and really think about the specifics of your Deal Breakers and what each one really means to you. I guarantee whatever Deal Breakers you skip over now ... will become major conflicts in your relationship at a later date.
It's better to know what your Deal Breakers are and whether a man has them before you get too far into a new relationship.
While you're thinking about it, why don't you take a few moments and write your own Deal Breaker list. As you get to know a man, refer back to this list to see if he has the qualities it takes to be with you.
Remember, if a healthy long-term relationship is what you really desire in your life, then you'll want to choose a man who doesn't have the Deal Breakers you've put on your list.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Deal Breakers...
Lisa Copeland is known as the expert on over 50's dating. She's the best-selling author of The Winning Dating Formula For Women Over 50 and her mission is to help as many women around the world as she can discover how to have fun dating and finding their Mr. Right after 50. To get your FREE Report, "5 Little Known Secrets To Find A Quality Man," visit www.findaqualityman.com.
Earlier on Huff/Post50: