Dating and Desire Podcast

EP.09 The Early Stages of Dating: What to Know Before Becoming Exclusive

Dating and Desire Podcast

Show Notes

Bridgett and Lauren break down the first stage of dating - the part between meeting someone and deciding whether you want to be exclusive - and they want you to stop treating it like a marriage audition. Lauren shares her three-stage framework and makes the case that six to eight dates is enough time to know if you want to move forward, as long as you're actually being yourself. Bridgett talks about what she's learned to pay attention to in those first few conversations, why she stopped leading with faith questions, and how she thinks about physical connection in this stage. The two get practical about first dates, texting expectations, navigating early disagreements, and why the ability to repair matters more than the ability to avoid conflict. If dating feels impossibly high-stakes before you've even ordered coffee, this episode is the permission slip to lower the pressure and actually enjoy getting to know someone. -- Watch on YouTube: ⁠https://youtu.be/xvcStD3gDp4⁠ -- If you're a Christian who wants to date with clarity and self-awareness, this is where you start.📱Follow @datinganddesire on Instagram for updates and conversation.⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/datinganddesire⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- Connect with Bridgett: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bridgettblood/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bridgettblood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Coaching | Free Resources | RECLAIM Cohort 📓Get the free Value-Based Boundaries in Dating Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/bridgettblood/p/get-my-valuebased-boundaries-guide-⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- Connect with Lauren: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/laurenmathues/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://laurenmathues.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dating Apps Don’t Have to Be Confusing. Get the free guide here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://laurenmathues.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ --

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