Big issues are big deals in the world of romance. Whether you’ve signed up for a niche dating site or put all your eggs in Cupid’s quiver, knowing what your date believes in, values, and is passionate about is vital to deciding if you’re a good match. Fortunately, big-issue topics don’t need to be scary. The following tips help challenging conversations go as smoothly as possible.
Engage in Active Listening
Active listening is the practice of being fully present with another person and paying attention to what they say verbally and nonverbally. It’s essential for understanding where someone is coming from and is especially effective in heated conversations.
Pick Your Battles
The perfect mate is a delicate balance between someone who challenges you and someone who shares your values. This is important to remember when engaging in difficult discussions. In short, pick your battles and don’t make hard discussions harder than they need to be. Remember, you can disagree and still be right for each other.
Keep Your Emotions in Check
It can be hard to keep emotions at bay when discussing something you’re passionate about, but staying calm and cool helps discussions remain diplomatic while allowing you to articulate your point better. It’s also crucial to perfect the when and where of it all. Is your first date at Applbees the ideal place to deliver an impassioned soliloquy about gas-guzzling SUVs or ask everyone about their carbon footprint? Probably not. You see, we build to that.
Read the Room
Not everything needs to be argued, talked about, or mulled over until you and your date are blue in the face. No matter how articulate you are, you’ll never be able to convince everyone that your thinking is correct.
If you consider women’s rights a dealbreaker, for instance, and your potential partner disagrees, don’t be afraid to cut your losses and call it an early night. Dating in the digital age means other potential matches are at your fingertips. Thus, there’s little sense in staying aboard a sinking ship.
Sign up for a Progressive Dating Site
Of course, one of the best ways to manage difficult discussions is to know what you’re dealing with before diving in. Meeting someone on a progressive dating app gives you a good idea of their values and passions, making it much easier to turn small talk into big revelations.
TruuBlue is an AI-powered dating app for socially progressive singles. Its focus on issues ranging from pro-choice, climate change, and gun control to immigration laws and LGBTQ protections empowers people to find partners with shared values and passions.
