Don't Let These Things Scare You Away from Dating ...

When you put yourself out there, there's always a chance that you'll get hurt. However, it's impossible to live a fulfilling life without taking risks. Besides, your close friends could stop talking to you or your cousins could cut contact with you, which can hurt just as badly as a breakup would. That's why you can't let the fear of getting dumped or cheated on scare you away from dating. Even if your heart gets broken, the happiness you felt while you were dating them will be worth the pain you feel during the breakup.

It doesn't matter if your parents are divorced and all of your friends are in unhealthy relationships. You don't have to end up like them. You're your own person, which means that your relationships won't necessarily end up like their relationships. It could actually be a good thing that you're surrounded by such horrid couples. That way, you can look at what your friends and family have done wrong and make sure you don't make the same mistakes in your relationship.

You can be independent while dating, just like you can be dependent while single. Even though you need to form a close bond with your boyfriend and spend a decent amount of time with him, he shouldn't become your entire life. You'll still have other friends to hang out with, hobbies to pursue, and a job to attend. Your partner won't be by your side 24/7, so you can still consider yourself independent while you're in a relationship.

If your ex cheated on you, it's normal for you to be wary about other men. However, they aren't all the same. Sure, there are certain people who will use you and leave you, but there are others who will love and cherish you. As long as you keep your eyes peeled for red flags, you'll be able to find a guy who would never dream of acting like your exes have.

You don't have to put your love life on hold in order to land your dream job. Your boyfriend will understand that you have other responsibilities to take care of. He won't stop you from going to work or distract you from doing the best job that you can, so feel free to pursue love at the same time as you're pursuing your career.

Don't assume that you're not smart or pretty enough for someone to love you. You're a beautiful woman, inside and out. You deserve love, just like everybody else does, so don't settle for a life alone if you'd rather be in a relationship.

If you've never had a boyfriend before, it could take you some time to get used to being in a relationship. However, that doesn't mean you're going to be the worst girlfriend in the world. Even if you consider yourself to be the most selfish person you know, you're going to be surprised by how sweet you act around your man. The right person will make you act like the best person (and girlfriend) you could be.

Dating isn't as scary as it looks. It might be hard to believe that right now, but once you find the right person for you, it'll be easy to push your fears aside. What do you think is the scariest thing about dating?