If you are not looking for a commitment — say so

It is very important, when you are trying to establish a dating relationship, to tell the other person what type of commitment, if any, you are looking to establish. If it’s just lunch or a once a week visit to the bowling alley that you want from your relationship, you need to be upfront about that. Why? Because the person that you are dating may be looking for something else entirely — a deeper relationship, possibly leading to intimate romance or even marriage. Many people make the mistake of not communicating their expectations at the beginning — with the result that the other person makes assumptions that are unwarranted — and that leads to eventual disaster, for both of you.