17 | Make it easy

Here's a follow up to the previous episode about the 6 stages of dating. I spend a lot of time laying out my reasons for thinking it is wise to slow way down in the early phase of dating. And then have a few thoughts about engagement.

Have you ever thought about the various stages that you'll go through as you move toward marriage? On this episode, I lay out what I think are the 6 dating stages. Stages 1 and 2 are often skipped over completely, and I think they're super important. Have a listen to find out why!

A dating situation that doesn't work out often feels like a failure. It's good to recognize the disappointment that comes when your crush isn't interested or a date that seems promising turns out to be a no. But it's also wise to let a no work to your advantage. Once you've experienced a no, a yes is a lot more obvious. Dates that don't work out can help hone your discernment so that you're more likely to recognize a yes in the future. A no can be good when you look at the big picture. Questions or comments? I'd love to hear from you! [email protected]

I love finding ways to think wisely about goals and unmet desires. Dating well and getting married are big topics to tackle- let's break them down by considering routines and projects. What should you do regularly in this dating season? How might it be helpful to consider some things as projects- tasks that have a start and end each week? That's what this episode is all about. I don't want to give all the surprises away, but I talk about how I get laundry done. Thrilling stuff, y'all! I hope you find it helpful. =)

What's a wise way to handle nosey questions about your dating life? My answer may surprise you- listen to this episode to hear my thoughts!

Set ups are a great way to meet new people. I highly recommend being open to them! Today's episode lays out tips for helping them happen and lays out how to decide if a set up is successful.Template for asking friends about a set up: https://www.heymrsaustin.com/asking-friends-acquaintances-about-blind-dates/Another set up post: https://www.heymrsaustin.com/lets-talk-about-set-ups/

I recently saw a post online that said, "Texting is not dating." There's a lot of wisdom in that simple statement! In today's dating culture, messaging and texting a lot before meeting someone seems to be the default. But is that a wise practice? Check out this episode to hear my thoughts on it.I reference dating coach Erika Ettin in this episode. Her instagram can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/alittlenudge/ I highly recommend her insta highlight titled "Templates" for when you need some help with how to phrase a message or text.

As with much of life, dating has a lot of stops and starts. How can we begin again after a break up or a series of false starts? Let's talk about it on today's episode!

Dating is the worst. Or is it? We seem to have collectively decided to be very negative about dating. What if we stopped complaining and had hope that good will come from this season? What if we decided to have fun with it? Let's talk about that on today's episode. I mention a new dating coaching I've started following. You can find her on instagram here: www.instagram.com/alittlenudge/

Are there ways to make yourself more approachable and easier to talk to? You betcha. Let's talk about that today!