Life has been, and continues to be, full of rules. As soon as we’re able to function independently we get slapped across the face with a ton of rules. It starts with things like “don’t stand on the furniture” and “don’t eat with your hands” to “play hard to get” and “wait 2 hours to respond to their text.” I’m tired of these rules and quite frankly, I’m not even sure that they really work. Sure, you might capture someones attention when you force yourself to not give any of your attention to them, but are you really winning if you’re depriving yourself of the exact thing that you want? I think dating should be fun, and what’s fun about playing manipulative games to make someone like you?

My approach to dating is to be as a straightforward and honest as possible, especially if you’re looking for a committed relationship. You can’t control how someone treats you, so unfortunately, even with this approach you can still get played or have your time wasted. The good thing is, you’ll know it’s not because of anything you did. Not playing games doesn’t mean you can’t flirt or that everything has to be serious from the get-go, it just means that you won’t pretend to feel something that you don’t feel. If you’re looking for something serious, make it known. If you want something casual, say it. That way no one is confused and both parties can decide to stay or leave based on the reality of the circumstance. All too often people stress themselves out and play games when really they’re making things conflicted and doing themselves a disservice. There is so no shame in liking someone who doesn’t like you back. It doesn’t have to be awkward or embarrassing to “put yourself out there” If anything, you’re better for it because you’re staying true to yourself.

What are your thoughts on dating? Do you think people should be more straightforward or do games keep things exciting? Comment below!