Resolutions. At this time, just about everyone’s making them. If you’re deciding on your goals in 2018, and putting “finding a soulmate” high on your list, congratulations. You’ve already taken an important first step.

That’s because, despite the still-popular believe that “love happens when you’re not looking for it,” we know this doesn’t happen very often. You have a much better chance of finding love if you do make a conscious effort to look for it. So, if you’re making this a resolution, it shows that you’re starting to think about what it takes to find love. That’s terrific.

But now comes the hard part – making that resolution stick. It’s no secret that most resolutions made on Jan. 1 are history by Feb. 1. But if you’re serious, there are steps you can take to keep this – and other – resolutions going. So, if you’re making resolutions anyway, here are some more that we, as elite matchmakers, suggest you add to your list if you’re looking for a meaningful relationship this year.

I resolve to think of my resolutions as a way of life. The best way to keep your resolutions is not to think of them as resolutions. It sounds ironic, but it’s true. Doctors and psychologists often say this about dieting, and with good reason. Real change involves a deep commitment to change, but somehow, telling yourself that you want to make new behaviors a part of your life is a lot less than saying, “I need to make drastic changes.” By saying that this is “a part of my life” you wind up having a clearer and more realistic view of the “big picture.” Which leads us to:

I resolve to remember that big steps start with little steps. Thinking “big picture” is important, but that’s only to proverbial “tip of the iceberg.” Let’s just assume that you’d love to fall in love this year. That’s terrific. But now you must think of the little steps that lead to love. Maybe you’ve given up on dating. You could make a resolution try dating again. Or maybe just to try to meet more singles this year. Let’s face it: before you fall in love, you must meet someone first! You have to think about how you are going to do that. When you look at it that way, you realize that these little steps are pretty big.

I resolve to keep my expectations realistic. Okay, you’ve made the effort to meet more singles. You say to yourself, “Today’s the day! I’m going to meet my soulmate!” But here’s the thing: It probably won’t happen just like that. You could go on a date, but feel no sparks. You could go to a singles event, and not meet anyone interesting. You could meet someone – only to find out that they’re not interested in you. The point is, you need to be realistic about this journey. It’s probably going to take some time. So, when you do go out, be hopeful and realistic. This will help you to keep going and avoid setbacks.

I resolve to possess all the traits in myself that I want in a partner. This goes along with being realistic, but it involves a little more soul-searching. The bottom line is, sparks must fly on both ends for love to bloom. Chances are, the match you’re interested in is looking for similar qualities in you. There’s an old saying, “Be like the person you want to marry.” The more you realize that, the better your chances are for success.

Now, we know that even you could be thinking, “I’m still not sure how to do all this.” This brings us to:

I resolve to call Elegant Introductions. Pardon the not-so-subtle plug, but matchmaking is not just our business – it’s our passion. We love matching successful singles, and we’ll help you every step of the way. We’ve already guided many singles, and you can read what they have to say here. You can also contact us at 305-615-1900 or get started right here online. We’d love to meet you and guide you on your road to romance in 2018.