Dating tips
March 29, 2025
How to determine your desires regarding dating and communication?


Online dating has long become a part of our everyday life, and without a proper understanding of one’s own desires, one can end up wasting a great deal of time fruitlessly. We suggest that you first learn how to properly enter into the subject of realising your own goals in the sphere of virtual contacts. This is truly important in view of the emotional costs and the efficiency of the search.
Defining one’s goals in the process of dating is both a simple and a very complex task. On the one hand, you simply need to ask yourself: “What do I want?” On the other hand, you must delve deeper into your own needs and review past experiences in order to better understand your ideal partner. It is also worth realising the differences between short-lived infatuations and serious intentions.
Why is it important to define your goals before dating?
Whether you are beginning dating for friendship, casual conversation, or the search for long-term relationships, we often fail to recognise that at different stages of life there may be different motivations. Without a clear vision of your own goals, it is easy to encounter outright misunderstandings from potential partners or even waste time in conversations that do not bring you closer to the desired outcome.
What will help you orient yourself from the very beginning:
- Give yourself an honest answer about what you aspire to: long-term contact or light conversations without obligations – as this already shapes your expectations.
- Consider your schedule and willingness to spend time: a sincere desire to develop relationships requires regular communication and emotional involvement.
- Ask yourself how open you are to new acquaintances: are you ready to overcome your own complexes and doubts for the sake of communication?
Pay attention to all the factors that affect motivation. Sometimes a person may say they desire closeness, yet in reality avoid any responsible steps. Understanding these nuances will help you avoid disappointments. Incidentally, Detto advises openly stating your needs at the initial stages of communication in order to save time and maintain a positive mood.
The impact of goals on success in dating
From the very beginning, formulating your own relationship goal will help you avoid situations where you engage in flings while actually seeking seriousness – or vice versa. A lack of a clearly expressed position regarding your intentions can lead to superficial conversations and disappointments. People who are aware of the importance of their goal usually find compatible interlocutors more quickly and significantly reduce the risk of ending up within an overtly undesirable circle of candidates.
Main mistakes when searching for a partner
In today’s world, the search for an ideal partner is becoming increasingly difficult due to numerous expectations and prejudices. Often, people rely on chance and underestimate their own limitations, which leads to disappointments. It is important to recognise mistakes, avoid them, and develop healthy relationships. A proper analysis of errors allows one to build harmonious relationships based on a true understanding of oneself and the other.
The most common mistakes include:
- Hoping that “everything will somehow sort itself out” and that long-term relationships will suddenly emerge from conversations.
- Convincing yourself that differences in the vision of a shared future are unimportant if “the person is good.”
- Not taking into account your own limitations in terms of time, energy, or the possibility of going offline.
Such mistakes often recur due to a lack of awareness of why you seek this communication. Therefore, if you wish to have serious relationships, it is better to immediately consider long-term compatibility.

What goals exist in online dating?
Modern online dating opens up a multitude of opportunities for meeting new people, where each individual is searching for that which corresponds to their inner aspirations. A clear definition of your own goals helps to create an authentic profile, engage in substantive conversations, and find suitable partners for a shared future. A proper start allows you to effectively choose the path to happy relationships with real success. There are no wrong or right motives here – there are only different desires, which are best formulated for yourself from the very beginning.
Serious relationships or marriage
Many people believe that online dating for marriage is both possible and truly effective. The desire to find a loved one with whom one can build a strong bond is one of the most common reasons for turning to virtual platforms. However, to achieve the desired result, you should clearly and sincerely state that this is exactly what you are looking for. This will help to filter out those who are only interested in a short-lived romance.
Friendship and communication
Not everyone is ready or willing to immediately plunge into the whirl of serious feelings. Sometimes the desire is simply for friendship. The interest in finding like-minded individuals to discuss favourite films, travel, or hobbies can lead to strong friendly bonds. This option is ideal for those who, at present, do not want something more but still crave pleasant communication.
Light and short-term dating
Some people are interested in casual encounters that do not entail long-term commitments. The format of such communication can vary: a meeting for a coffee, a short fling, or simply a virtual flirtation with no plans for the future. The key here is to inform potential partners of the absence of long-term plans in order to avoid emotional problems or differences in views.
How to understand what you want?
At the heart of success lies an analysis of your own inner state and life circumstances. It often happens that a person, during one period, seeks casual dating for something relaxed – for example, to chat and distract themselves from problems – and at another period is ready for a serious step and long-term relationships. Think about what suits you best.
Self-analysis and understanding your own needs
Firstly, it is important to give yourself time for self-observation. Pay attention to your emotions when you read other people’s profiles or begin correspondence. If something irritates you or, on the contrary, extraordinarily attracts you, it is a signal regarding your priorities. By applying the basic principles proposed by the psychology of dating, you will be better able to understand what kind of people you are looking for.
The influence of past experience on the choice of a partner
The experience of past relationships often leaves a strong imprint on subsequent searches. If in the past you experienced betrayal or insincerity, you will likely be particularly cautious. If you have encountered partners who did not value your time, you now pay special attention to the punctuality and courtesy of your interlocutor. It is important not to dwell on past mistakes, but to use them as a lesson in order to find your soulmate or, conversely, to avoid excessive hopes if you are looking for something simpler.
How to correctly design your profile according to your goals?
One of the key points is that the design of your profile must fully reflect your true intentions. If you are choosing a marital partner, there is no need to hide this fact behind vague phrases such as “maybe something more.” People appreciate honesty, and frankness will help other users to orient themselves regarding further contact with you.
What to write in the description to attract the right people
The first and foremost thing: clearly indicate your main goal – this will save time for both you and those around you. Add a bit of humour or some interesting facts about yourself so that your profile appears personable and individual. Avoid an overly long list of requirements for a partner; it is better to focus on two or three important points. With such information in your profile, the chance of attracting exactly those who share your values and vision becomes much higher.
Which photos to choose for different dating goals
If your goal is marriage, it is logical to use pleasant, natural photos without excessive eroticism. For those seeking something short-term, perhaps brighter snapshots that convey your light-hearted character and openness to flirtation may be more appropriate. Photos with friends or with pets are suitable for those wishing to find a friendly circle of communication. In any case, remember: overloading your profile with pictures in which you are hard to recognise may alert potential partners.
How to recognise the goals of other people?
Once you have determined your own desires, a new question arises: how to recognise the intentions of a partner? This is important because some individuals may conceal their true motivation very well. Careful reading of the profile, the manner of communication, and the consistency of actions with stated words help reveal the truth.
Often, you can determine what lies behind eloquent texts by paying attention to the details of the interlocutor’s behaviour – especially during the first correspondence or initial phone calls. A haste to move on to personal topics, frequent provocations, or ignoring your questions are all markers that the person is playing their own game rather than sincerely seeking reciprocity.
Signs that may help reveal the true goals of your interlocutor:
- Excessive haste in developing the acquaintance, when the partner almost immediately suggests a meeting or discusses explicit details.
- Unwillingness to answer specifically questions about the future or about their own expectations from communication.
- Vague statements such as “We’ll see what happens” or “I don’t care,” which indicate uncertainty or manipulation.
If you notice similar signs, this does not necessarily mean deceit, but it is wise to be more cautious. Any sharp discrepancies between words and actions are a clear reason to be wary. After all, “Detto – we are a dating platform” always emphasises: do not rush to conclusions, yet do not ignore intuitive signals.
Red flags and insincere intentions
Generally, the worst situation is when a person disguises themselves as someone who wants a serious development of events, but in reality is interested only in dating or deceit for personal gain.
Among the “red flags” are:
- Constant changes in their stories or confused accounts about themselves.
- Ignoring your clarifying questions.
- Persistent conversations about finances or attempts to obtain material benefits from you.
Remember: your personal space is in your own hands. If you feel that something is amiss, it is best to exercise caution.
How to ask the right questions in communication
Always ask directly how the person envisions an ideal time spent together. You may clarify whether your interlocutor has experience with long-term relationships and, if so, how openly they discuss it. The main point is not to hesitate to ask about priorities and future plans. In this way, you will obtain a preliminary picture and understand whether your worlds align. Over time, as conversations become more intimate, a person who truly seeks serious online relationships will gladly discuss their views on family values, work, place of residence, etc.

Conclusion: How defined goals will help in dating
A clear understanding of your own desires – whether to build a family or simply to have an enjoyable time – provides you with a powerful tool. You will more quickly find “the one”, save energy, and make the search process more predictable and calm.
But how can you effectively apply all of the above in practice? Theory only becomes truly effective when you begin to gradually, step by step, change your own communication strategy on virtual platforms. Therefore, we have formulated a few final recommendations.
Three important tips for applying the knowledge you have gained:
- Set boundaries and priorities: determine how much time you will allocate to searching for a partner and communication.
- Regularly update your profile: even minor changes can attract people who better meet your requirements.
- Monitor your own emotional state: do not forget to take breaks if you feel exhausted or disappointed.
All these steps will help you maintain a balance between expectations and reality, as well as reduce the level of stress from unexpected events. Remember that Detto offers various tools for filtering potential partners according to your priorities. Register today!
May your decision be well-considered, and your communication pleasant and fruitful with Detto!