8 Steps to New Love: Your 2008 Dating Plan
By Diana Kirschner, Ph.D.
Special to Yahoo! Personals
Updated: Aug 16, 2008
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Change your love life by following
a whole new dating plan and committing right now, right here to find your new
love. At this moment your chances of meeting the love of your life could be
better than ever! New singles are coming on the scene all the time. In fact,
around 16 million people are now using online dating in the U.S. You have a lot of partners to
choose from.
So go on, make the affirmation. Something like, "I create new
love." Here is an eight-step action plan that can make your commitment a
reality in 2008:
1. Prioritize Finding LoveImagine if you didn't have a job and needed money. Looking for a
job would be your absolute top priority. You would spend hours posting and
searching sites like HotJobs.com, scanning
the want ads, calling recruiters, asking your friends and jumping on any leads.
In contrast, finding love ranks pretty low on your to-do list. You
come home from work, run errands, answer some emails, call your friends, play
with the dog, watch your favorite show, and maybe spend 15 minutes browsing
your online dating site.
Most of you are better at planning your weekend or
vacation than planning your dating life.
Most of you are better at planning your weekend or
vacation than planning your dating life. Yet study after
study has shown that relationships are treasured above all else when we reflect
on what has the most meaning in our lives. So make finding love a top
priority.
2. Have A 'New You' Party
Most of you are better at planning your weekend or
vacation than planning your dating life.
Order a bunch of pizzas or something simple like Chinese food.
Invite all your friends to come over for a "New You" party where they
give you a makeover. Have them go through your clothes and accessories, getting
rid of unflattering stuff and putting together some hot new looks for you. Ask
them for referrals to great hair salons or clothing shops. Find a look that
makes you feel great.
Don't feel like you are imposing -- there is usually
nothing your friends like more than giving you advice!
Throw out your old photo and profile. Have a friend who is a good
photographer take 100 headshots of you in order to get one that looks
especially warm, attractive and inviting. Ask some opposite-sex friends to help
you pick out the best photo and work on your profile. After you post them,
spend at least three hours a week looking around the site, sending and
responding to messages and connecting by phone and in person with people. Block
out time in your daily calendar to work the program.
4. Go Where the Odds Are GoodSign up for two ongoing classes or activities that interest you
that have lots of potential partners in them. Finance, investing and leadership
classes at your local college, rock-climbing, golfing, snowboarding, skiing,
hiking and wine tasting are all great for meeting men. Women are plentiful at
cooking, growth, spirituality and yoga courses. Coed city sports teams are
great and usually have an even mix of genders.
There are many other activities, classes and clubs to consider, so
search online. Or go toUpcoming or meetup.com and peruse
their groups. If you're so inclined, look into volunteering for a local or
national political group.
5. Meet New PeopleFind and say hello to three new men or women every day. Assuming
you are in a safe or public place, make eye contact, smile, say hi, or ask for
some help. This is what I call the Marcia Cross Technique. Actress Marcia Cross
was in her forties when she met her husband by chatting with him in a flower
shop. She is now the ecstatic mother of twin baby girls.
If you don't encounter a lot of men or women in your daily routine,
make sure to try a new grocery store, dry cleaners, pharmacy or coffee/sandwich
shop at lunch. You can start with saying hello to the less threatening types
and work your way up to the ones who are "out of your league." You
will be surprised how receptive the hotties can be!
6. Date Against TypeMost people do not find love with the type of person they imagine
for themselves. The guy who only wants a petite blonde winds up with a brainy
brunette. The woman who dates starving artists marries a rich, balding lawyer.
Look at photos and profiles that you would ordinarily pass on. If you always go
for the sleek metrosexual, give the Midwesterner who just moved to your town a
try. If you go for the hotties, try someone who has a heart of gold instead.
You may be very happily surprised!
7. Go for a Second Date
Even if you are not exactly blown away by a person
on the first date, remember to stay open.
If you do meet someone and have a really good time, send a quick
text or email the next morning to let the person know that the door is open to
getting together again. This is especially important for women to do. Write
something specific about the date that points to the connection between the two
of you or refers to something you both loved. For example, if you went to a
comedy show, write a message about a particular joke you both enjoyed and add,
"Let's do it again sometime."
Now you have your love resolution and plan. Most importantly,
commit to the first step and make this plan Priority One in your life. Chances
are, before too long you'll be kissing the one you want.
More Diana Kirschner- Five Dead-End Dating Patterns and How to Break Them
- Do You Have Dating Dawdlitis?
- You Asked..."Why Won't He Commit?"
- You Asked... "Why Won't He Respond?"

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