There's alot of great advice being written here.
A little background on myself, I'm currently 24 years old. I've been in 2 relationships that I consider to be serious, whether or not the guys who took part in it felt the same way... I can't answer for certain. The first one lasted about 2 years the second one about a year. Both a failure but the experiences has more or less taught me to trust my insights and initial wonderings about a guy. It has generally been proven to be true with time but I also note that other 'insights' have been wrong as well.
I haven't had a great deal of attention from men, and have only really been pursued by strikingly socially inept guys who were invasively creepy- I'm guessing because they don't pick up on all the definsive vibes I must be sending; sleezy older men/employers who like the straight-laced vibe?; and the occasional man on the street asking if I'm a prostitute!
Wow that was rude of them to ask you if you were a prostitute, I'm offended. I'm quick to ignore / avoid eye contact with those creep types *shudder*. It's always the sane guys who pick up the social cues to stay away.
I think part of the problem for me growing up was that I had a lot of the "stay away stay away" vibe given to men. In highschool because I was perpetually single and took no interest in dating 'boys' (immature) rumor around school was that I was a lesbian. Totally untrue, but I can see why they would think so. I was a lot less defensive around women and a lot more defensive around men, thus the whole 'she's a secret lesbian' rumors.
The only advice I can give regarding the matter is to be open and attentive to those around you, sometimes that personal connection you want in a friend has to be initiated by you… seeing as we're the picky ones, right?
What has helped me a bit was at the very least accepting the fact that I may never find someone. Being okay with it takes the edge off any desperation I might otherwise feel.
That's not to say that I've resigned myself to it. I still long for a deep meaningful relationship but, in the case that I was not meant to have such a thing, I have already considered the results so it won't come as a surprise. Escaping the crushing fear of being forever alone has actually allowed me to grow and put forth a little more effort each day into finding someone.
That advice may not be for everybody, but perhaps there is something in there that could help.
I think it's more likely that since you've been single you have matured into/towards what's needed for a good relationship. Now the hard part, you just have to find someone who's done the same.
Just don't give up hope! From a completely logical standpoint, if by some off chance you do get stuck being single (which I highly doubt given the contents and construct of your posts) it would be better to continue searching for a special someone than to be rushed and desperate.
Again, I really don't think you'll have any problem finding someone. Don't force it, but put keep putting the effort into being ready when you find them, being observant in case you happen across them, and be patient. It will happen. Also, don't forget to take care of yourself while your at it. It's something I think a lot of us struggle with.
I second balderdash's advice whole heartedly.
I feel that I could never date someone who I don't resonate strongly with in a few key areas which are important to me (compatible beliefs/spirituality; interest/empathy with different kinds of people; moving in a similar direction with what he wants in the future). But I find I am very rarely attracted to people these days. As morbid as it sounds- like maybe that part of me is dying! (very dramatic...)
I'm on the same page with you here. I look for the same things in a companion. I haven't been attracted to a lot of guys since my last breakup about 2 years ago. I could easily go another 2 years without having strong feelngs for a guy. I liked an ESFP for about a week but snapped out of it quickly at the end of the last year though LOL Mistake on my part *face palm*
I definately long for a good relationship- even if it crashes and burns in the end. "To have lived and loved...", but I guess my psyche is less cavalier on a deeper level.
It depends on your standard of good. If by good you mean a level of excitement and seriousness shared by your partner, then I would say..... I'm unsure. What I considered to be good in both my previous relationships was good at the time but in retrospect… I don't know. My most recent ex was not the best communicator. What I've had to deal in the aftermath of the breakup is the fantasy I put up versus the reality of what actually occurred. If I focus on the fantasy it seems full of depth and all things great, if I focus on the reality it doesn't seem as deep as I may have imagined it to be. If it was so great, why did we break up? Makes me question whether relationships could be 'good' if they lead to an ending.
Please any feedback would be really appreciated. But I don't think I can endure another person telling me to just to put myself out there more by going clubbing to meet men. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
Oh gosh, no! Never go to a club to meet men LOL That is the worst advice ever. The crowd at clubs are not what I consider 'marriage' material.
….Now, I don't think this was always the healthiest thing for me, especially since a bit of it came from thinking myself not worthy of more, but I can say that it allowed me to get real-time experience with relationships and to find out what really worked for me and what didn't. Not holding myself to a certain standard gave me a chance to try things out and to grow from the experiences.
I think that part of our temperament causes us to stay on the sidelines and not choose something that we think isn't entirely right for us and that tendency can have us miss out on so much. I'm not saying to settle for something not right, but I am saying that taking a chance to TRY out something that might not be right gives us an experience of learning about ourselves through the eyes of someone else that we could never have otherwise, and that is valuable. We are social beings and there is nothing valuable in holding ourselves back from relationships until the right one comes along. When something is right, little can stand in it's way, so meeting people and getting to know them isn't going to stop the best person from also coming along.
I hope that made sense.
I second this advice. I think sometimes we may set up an impossible standard… from my failed relationships I have learned a lot of new things from the men that I shared my life with… it's a learning experience that I would've lost out on if I had only one specific type in mind. With that being said, I wouldn't advise that you lower your standard TOO far.
I like to say, be adventurous… not dumb. I've seen a lot of people make dumb choices for mates; I mean, ending up with really crazy people @_@; Witnessing it makes me reconsider lowering any sort of standard X__X;
I think the dating site idea wierds me out- because I suppose I like to gather information about people by observing them in person- you can't get a clear view of someone from a photo on a website and a few stats? And as you say- I really want to get to know a friend at the start- so I don't know how comfortable I'd be with the "dating" vibe straight off the bat with someone from a dating site.
But I suppose give me a few more years and I'll either be willing to try anything, or I'll be a dedicated hermit! ...
I really second Alizar's recommendation on a dating site. It's something I've personally considered as of late. I mean lets be honest here, using a dating site can be very beneficial (logically):
1) you aren't limited by physical space (since the virtual world is a lot more easily accessible)
2) you have more control over what traits you like and don't like. For instance, you can screen out anyone who uses recreational drugs….etc…. That's 80% of the work done for you.
I have my reservations about using a dating site as well, but if I don't open up my level of comfort to try something new then the only result I COULD get is what I currently have… right? So why not give it a shot? What have we to lose?
Although you may not be able to get a clear view of someone through a website and stats, I would still give it chance. Sometimes people write profile pages that are several pages long with detailed descriptions. It's useful, it's not just about stats. For the serious relationship seekers, they put a lot of effort into their dating profiles; and you'll be able to tell that they 'care'. If you're interested in intuitively figuring somebody out, you could always 'Skype' them before meeting them in person?
I feel the same way about the "dating" vibe straight off the bat; not something I like and I'm trying to get around it. I don't like going into something with the idea that we're dating or looking to date. Friends first then.. dating; I'm more comfortable with that.
However I don't think you're alone in that thought. We don't know that there aren't people on dating sites who aren't already seeing/thinking "friends first, then love". Know what I mean?
Regardless.. you could always specify in your dating profile how you feel; that you're here firstly to find a friend and secondly to date. I think that's an accommodation the dating site / community can make =D Give it a shot, we've got nothing to lose.
Best wishes my fellow INFJs, may love find you someday...or you find it :wink:
Amen.