He's Perfect But...

Many times, we start dating someone we find attractive and engaging...perfect in many ways, except for "just one thing". Whether the problem is significant or trivial: the way he laughs, the way he acts around his friends, or his choice of career, it gets in the way of your relationship and how you feel about him.

So how do you decide if you can get past "this one thing" and move forward into a relationship, or whether it's a deal-breaker for you? Here are a few questions you can ask yourself:

Is this something I can overlook? For example, if your date likes to tell a lot of bad jokes when he's with his friends, is this something significant enough to end the relationship? Many times habits or personality traits can be bothersome, but if his other qualities outshine the annoyances (is he kind, considerate, thoughtful, etc.?), a little tolerance on your part can go a long way.

Is there a pattern in my relationships? If you tend to date people who cheat, lie, or otherwise act in a distrustful or disrespectful manner, consider why you're attracted to this type of person. There's a reason that it happens over and over again. It could be time to break the pattern and move on.

Do your values conflict? If your significant other acts in ways that conflict with your values, or is treating you or others with disrespect, there is little room for compromise. Both people in any relationship should feel respected and valued, and if he or she thinks your values or goals are irrelevant, this is a clear sign the relationship isn't what it should be.

Can I resist "fixing" him? Many women enter relationships thinking that they can change whatever it is they don't like about their significant others. However, relationships don't work that way. Instead of trying to fix him, work on your own patience, tolerance, etc. to let him be exactly as he is. If you're unable to resist being a "fixer", this may not be the relationship for you.

Am I flexible? Maybe she lives 2,000 miles away and one of you would have to consider leaving your friends, job, and home to be together, which is a big decision. Are either of you willing to take that risk? Or maybe he's part of a baseball league and won't make plans on Wednesdays or Saturdays because of the game schedule. Can you compromise on scheduling activities you do together? Flexibility of both parties is key in making relationship work.

Every relationship requires respect and mutual consideration. Many times we have to make compromises, which isn't a bad thing. Before you consider dumping someone because of an issue you can't see past, make sure that you aren't overlooking the good qualities, too.