Do Your Friends Give You Too Much Dating Advice?

Sometimes there's nothing more frustrating than listening to your friends give you advice about dating. Especially if they are happily married or in relationships. You might be thinking, "you haven't dated in ten years - what do you know?" But we still like to discuss our relationships with friends - we want support, and to be heard when we're feeling let down or confused. Friends are a great support system in this way. But while they might have your best interest at heart, they don't always have all the right answers.

While some advice is good to hear, some just doesn't work or ring true. My rule of thumb? Always follow your gut - you know what's best for you, but sometimes your friends can see you a bit more clearly than you are willing to admit, so keep an open mind. Following are some tips to help guide you through the sea of dating advice:

Filter out the negative. If your friends tend to wax negative about your dating habits, it's time to start asking other people. Sure, there are always things you can change and goals to strive towards, but if your friends are constantly telling you why it won't work out: "oh, you'll never date someone who wants to settle down," or "she just wants you for your money," or even "all men are flaky like that," then you may want to ask someone else.

Know whether or not your friends are in happy, healthy relationships. Sometimes those who give advice aren't necessarily living by it themselves. If your friend is happily in a relationship, then consider his opinion, because he's have found a way to navigate the rough stuff, too. If he's perpetually single or in an unhappy relationship, he may not be the best source of advice on what works well for you.

They sugarcoat their responses. Many of my girlfriends (and myself included) like to reassure each other when we're dating. If there was a man I dated who suddenly dropped out of the picture - no more texts or phone calls - they would tell me he just got busy with work or he was traveling. The truth was, he just wasn't that into me, but sometimes friends don't want to tell you things that you don't want to hear.

Be willing to change. Sometimes the truth can hurt if it rings true. Have you been dating the same way for years? Have you become frustrated because you're meeting the same types of people who eventually disappoint? If your friends see a pattern, then it's worth looking into. Since you can't change your dates, it's a good idea to see what you can change about how you approach dating.