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! Laura@heymrsaustin.com

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!