Do you ever feel like you've been stuck in this casual dating rut for years, never evolving? Are you frustrated because you don’t know what to look for in the women you’re dating?

Most of our romantic interactions start with physical attraction. Often, though, we do not move past sexual attraction, whether due to a lack of commitment or a lack of understanding of how to connect with the whole person.

Dating today is a little more complicated than back in our parents’ day. You could be dating a woman for months and still have no idea where you two stand. Those seeking a genuine connection may get frustrated and anxious if all their relationships begin with a spark and end with little else.

How to Transform a Hookup into Mature Dating

However, research suggests that relationships that start as hookups can turn into meaningful connections. So, let’s look at how to make the leap from sexual attraction to a higher-ordered, mature dating and begin a lasting, fulfilling relationship.

Be Open About Your Intentions

Each conscious relationship should begin with an honest dialogue about the intentions and expectations of both partners. Being open about your expectations from a relationship can make communication easier and prevent both of you from feeling disappointed and resentful.

For example, if you want to be friends with benefits and your partner sees you as exclusive in the future, this may hurt her and cause issues.

A common problem with casual relationships is that we hardly ever share our feelings and expectations with one another. However, even a causal relationship is still a relationship that calls for openness and communication.

Experiment With Going Exclusive

Being exclusive might be a perfect trial period for you and your partner to see whether you want to move forward with a committed relationship. Exclusive dating generally entails you becoming more connected. You may begin spending more time with each other’s friends, lose interest in dating apps, or stop seeing other people.

Also, she could begin spending more nights at your place, and you may want to meet each other’s parents.

This may be an excellent opportunity to invest time and energy into getting to know one another and exploring what your life would be like together. Use this time to discover if your values, beliefs, aspirations, and expectations are compatible. Take it slowly but make sure you are on the same page.

Be Committed to Growth

Conscious, lasting relationships are built on the foundation of individual and mutual growth. However, in most casual relationships, partners don’t know what to expect. Or they anticipate one another’s behavior without explicitly addressing it.

However, being secretive or jumping to conclusions is never good. As a result, you may choose to repress your needs, desires, and feelings and withdraw, leading to relationship dissatisfaction.

As humans, we have a strong drive to grow and develop. And personal development involves a lot of inner work. It entails being aware of your mistakes and learning from them. This is important because working on yourself can help you figure out your bad habits and how they might affect you and the women you date.

So, suppose you want to move from sexual attraction to a conscious relationship. In that case, you have to value personal growth while committing to a deeper connection with one another.

Cultivate Vulnerability

A deeper connection requires vulnerability. Vulnerability in relationships is key to trust, understanding, and acceptance.

Unfortunately, many men have been taught that vulnerability is the same as weakness. As a result, we are afraid of exposing ourselves to the women we date, becoming uncomfortable and aloof at the first hint that a sex connection is getting too serious.

While opening yourself up to another human being is not without risk, learning not to be afraid of disclosing the most intimate parts of yourself may help you understand each other and deepen your connection.

Allow Each Other Space

It is critical to keep a portion of your life to yourself even as you become committed. Spending time apart and having different hobbies and interests could help your relationship grow. In addition, it helps you grow as an individual.

Respect Each Other’s Boundaries

Setting boundaries is often interpreted as an act of withdrawal and distancing. However, boundaries can help you establish your identity, make your expectations clear, and define your responsibilities.

In addition, healthy boundaries may lead to better communication, more assertiveness, and a stronger capacity to settle disagreements constructively. They can also help you protect yourself, reduce resentment, and increase your sense of safety in a relationship.

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