While it's good to date a range of people, dating too many people can suggest a lack of selectiveness. If you date only those people who you feel are more likely to be a good match, you are less likely to suffer from dating burnout. There's no real need to date hundreds of people, the aim is to find one lifelong partner.

Myth 2: I need to be beautiful and intelligent to find love / get married

A common myth among women is that the prettiest and most talented women are ‘chosen' for long-term relationships or marriage first. In fact, some of the most attractive and successful women are the very people who find it hardest to move from dating to long-term love. Marriage isn't the prize which shows how good you are. It is simply a measure of whether someone has been able to find someone compatible to spend their life with. Often the reason someone has not married or entered into a committed relationship is down to their own selectiveness.

Myth 3: Always go by your first impressions of a man

First impressions on a blind date can be deceptive. There are lots of reasons why dating someone new can lead to a person not being themselves. Nerves or the desire to impress can cause all kinds of people to act differently to how they would normally. Any number of other things may affect how someone behaves, such as a bad day at work making them grumpy, or a lack of sleep inattentive. You will probably get a better impression of the person you are dating on a second or third date.

Myth 4: His annoying qualities will vanish as I get to know him better

While it is true that first impressions are not necessarily correct, if there are characteristics about your date which continue to bother you on the second or third date, they probably won't go away as time goes on. Be honest about the less attractive qualities your man has and whether they matter enough to you to stop dating them.

Myth 5: I can change him into the perfect man

It is often tempting to think that, with the right encouragement or guidance, all the less appealing qualities you have noticed when dating a man can be ironed out until he is the ideal partner. In fact, it is virtually impossible to change someone against their will in the long term. If he wants to change then he will, but it must be his decision. Don't labour under the myth that you will be able to change him by yourself.

Myth 6: If only I went to the right type of dating events, I would find the right man

Dating events are good for mingling but the truth is that at organised dating events, people can be quite on edge or find it hard to be themselves. You may find that it is at more casual events that you meet the man for you. Try to vary your activities to give yourself a variety of opportunities to meet new people, and don't close yourself off to meeting someone just because it might not be the most obvious place to do so.