Dating & Relationships

It took me years to understand that I had to heal in order to feel. For decades, I ran from my feelings. I ate on them, drank on them and over-worked to avoid them – until I realised that my disconnection from my feelings was sabotaging my relationships. It seems obvious now but for a long time, I was unaware of the importance of feeling my feelings. If I could just keep moving – running or working or travelling or falling in and out of relationships – then they wouldn’t catch up with me. I wouldn’t have to feel the grief, loss and pain that was stored deep inside and that I’d been avoiding since I was a child. I wonder if you have done this, and if you do it now?

Having a fulfilling social and dating life has been a bit challenging lately, hasn’t it? If you are anything like me you might be feeling slightly out of practice when it comes to interacting with new people. This is where being part of the online community gives you a great advantage. When face-to-face dates might not be possible or difficult to arrange, your screen means you can still meet new faces and chat, whether it’s via messaging, emails, phone calls, or video dates. Or maybe you’re able to meet in person, over a coffee or on a walk, and want to know how to develop your connection. Here are a few suggestions for early conversations with someone new.

Christian Connection has spent over twenty years helping single Christians meet, and we’ve seen a lot of Valentine’s Days come and go in that time! It’s always a busy time on the site and app, with lots of new members joining, new connections happening and now online meetups and events too. There’s no right way to feel about Valentine’s Day but if you want to make it memorable, there are lots of CC members who feel the same. If you want to close your eyes until it’s passed for another year, we understand! Here are six ways to get through February 14th.

It’s a saying as old as Shakespeare that the path of love doesn’t run smooth, and when it comes to online dating that can certainly seem true! No two couples who meet on Christian Connection have the same story. While some clicked straight away, many didn’t – and there’s lots to learn from their stories. What advice do those who found that meeting the person they went on to marry took time, stops and starts, and even a missed connection or two, have for daters?

Like most people, last year didn’t quite go how I imagined. I had dreams and plans for the year and I even made a vision board for the first time in my adult life (I know)! Then Covid happened and everything changed. I had to cancel some plans and manage my expectations for the year as things were no longer in my control. But it wasn’t all bad, and at the end of the year, I took some time out to thank God for all that He did for me in 2020, despite the disappointments.

There is a saying: ‘It was an overnight success after 20 years’ hard work.’ Sometimes dating can feel like that. Are things taking a bit longer than you thought? Sometimes you go through seasons of not getting messages or replies, or not going on dates. Maybe you begin to feel downhearted about this whole looking-for-love thing. Dating discouragement is real!

‘New year, new me’. We hear this phrase so many times (and sometimes say it!) with New Year’s resolutions. We make health plans, fitness and life goals and, of course, dating ambitions – all ready to start at the stroke of midnight. The excitement and pressure build, the determination is there, but according to the US News and World report, 80% of the New Year’s resolutions fail by February. How are yours going so far?!

As we wave goodbye to 2020 and enter 2021, what lies ahead? While there’s lots going on in the world, one thing doesn’t change – there’s still a strong desire to connect with others. Over the 20 years we’ve been helping single Christians meet, we’ve seen that January is one of the best times of the year to embrace online dating. More people are joining, sending waves, likes and messages in January than at any other time. So, if you’re new to online dating, or are returning after a break, welcome! Now is the perfect time to get started. Here are just some of the things we’ve learned about Christian dating to help you connect successfully.