Most people want to find someone with which to share their life, but most people find the actual process of finding that special someone something of an ordeal! For anyone seriously looking for a life partner, the dating process is something that needs to be endured in order to find the right person, rather than enjoyed for the social opportunities it affords!

When playing the dating game it's good to start by knowing exactly what it is your hope to achieve, and how you hope to get it -- your game plan. What kind of person are you looking for? What kind of attributes must this person have? What kind of attributes must this person absolutely not have, the deal breakers (this could be anything from a beard to a criminal record!)?

What are you looking for from this relationship once you find a suitable person? What are you not looking for? By figuring out what it is you want from the dating game, you stand more chance of finding it. Saying that you're looking for "the one" is setting yourself up for failure unless you know exactly what "the one" will be like and so you'll recognize them when you meet them!

Once you've identified the kind of person you want to date, next you need to consider where such a person will hang out. Are they likely to be at a nightclub, or perhaps a coffee shop, or maybe a gym/sports club? Think about the kind of activities that such a person will undertake in their free time, and that's where you need to become a regular in order to identify suitable single people.

It could be that your local church or community volunteer group is the right place so get involved with projects around your area could introduce you to a new set of single prospective dates!

Having found people who fit your ideal criteria, you then need to ascertain what they are looking for from a relationship. This doesn't mean that you interrogate them as to what their intentions are, but rather than you chat with them and get a feel if they are looking for the same kind of things in life as you are. A few subtle comments in their social circle should reveal how this person really is when not turning on the charm, and so give you a clearer picture of them.

Although dating is a tough game, by sorting out what it is you're looking for in a date, you'll be able to by-pass those who are not playing by the same rules you are, and move onto to those who match your game plan perfectly.