I had stayed single for several years before I met my husband.

For me, divine timing was paramount. I trusted the timing of my life and wholeheartedly believed that everything would eventually fall into place.

And it did.

However, I must admit that as much as I believe that everything works out as planned, sometimes we contribute to the rise of unfortunate events.

When single, we often receive many suggestions on how to date. Although other people’s advice is usually well-intentioned, it’s not always useful…or helpful.

I have found that most of the advice we receive around love and relationships is somewhat skewed. It may not hurt, but it may prevent us from meeting the right person.

My husband is the right person for me, but I’ve had to dump all my preconceived notions of how things “should” be to unravel that compatibility. And I think you should do the same.

If you’re single and serious about finding a life partner, you need to let go of everything you think you know about love. You need to open your mind to new possibilities and scenarios.

You may be surprised to learn that everything you know about finding a life partner is false.

Here are four myths about love that may revolutionize your next relationship:

Myth #1: You have to love yourself first.

I lost count of how many times I pushed potential partners away just because I had lacked self-love. When I met my husband, I was struggling with self-esteem and many insecurities. Thankfully, my husband has contributed to my journey of self-love, and his unwavering support has taught me how to unconditionally love and accept myself. So, no, you don’t need to love yourself before meeting the one. If you do, that’s great! But if you don’t, you shouldn’t let this stop you because the right person will help you build a healthier relationship with yourself.

Myth #2: You have to be similar.

Similarity is not the key to a healthy relationship with your partner. You may not like the same things and may even have different hobbies or goals. This myth tends to hinder us from having a good relationship with someone who may be right for us. Aligned values are more essential and the only thing that should be similar. Differences are inevitable and may even be beneficial, but we get to choose the core values that should be present in our relationship.

Myth #3: You should be swept off your feet.

Most of us think that we must experience a massive flood of emotions when we first meet someone in order to experience real love. We seek that unexplainable overwhelm and may be confused if we don’t feel it. We might even push away someone if they don’t sweep us off our feet. The truth is that kind of love creates unrealistic expectations and may fade away with time. We should build a healthy, happy relationship slowly overtime without the necessity of excessive emotions in the beginning.

Myth #4: You should date someone who ticks all your boxes.

We all have a mental checklist of what we want in a partner, and we often prioritize it to create the relationship we desire. I’ve realized that having a checklist doesn’t guarantee a happy or compatible relationship. It may even lower our chances of finding someone we truly connect with. Instead of pursuing certain qualities, focus on the values, long-term goals, and connection.

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