From a young age, movies and television taught us to fantasize about our ideal romantic partner.

Watching our favorite rom-com movies, listening to popular love ballads and reading bestseller books inspire our imagination in numerous ways.

Unfortunately, reality hardly allows a perfect love story where both partners get exactly what they wanted.

That is why the new generation is adopting the trend of dating without expectations.

Coining the term DWNE (Dating With No Expectations), Gen Z has been following this trend in the post-pandemic world according to Tinder’s research in 2021. 

Wondering if you should also embrace this more laid back approach with zero expectations?

Let us give you five reasons why you should at least consider dating without expectations!

Nobody is Perfect

As we grow older, it becomes an unconscious tendency to build expectations about our ideal partner.

Carrying such expectations from previous relationships into newer ones is completely natural.

However, it is also important to remember that nobody is perfect.

Meeting someone who matches every facet of your dream partner is quite a fantasy, but it rarely comes to fruition in reality.

Every adult lives with some baggage on their mind that they are trying to detangle.

The people you date may not end up behaving or living the way you would expect them to.

Approaching them without a set of expectations can keep you both more open to compromises and help you build a happy relationship later.

No Pressure

For those who suffer from anxiety disorder or predate nervousness, removing expectations before going on a date can take the psychological burden off your mind.

Get into the dating scene without feeling any obligation to fulfill certain conditions. 

This can be especially helpful for over-thinkers or people who have been single for a long time.

Instead of building up possible scenarios in your head, just dive right in with enthusiasm and a relaxed mind.

Dating without expectations can remove the premature sound of wedding bells and the ultimatums that you dish out to a potential mate, causing unnecessary stress in a relationship that does not exist.

Instead of enforcing hard deadlines, just go with the flow and you’re less likely to find yourself chasing titles. 

You Can Be Yourself

An additional advantage of dating without expectations is the freedom you feel to be 100% yourself.

If you get into dating with no predetermined checklist, you can allow yourself to just enjoy the moment and vibe with the other person.

There is no need to modify your personality to fit a mold.

Let your true self be seen by this new person and see where the path takes you two.

It can naturally blossom into a fully flourished bond, or stay a happy memory that you will always cherish.

Being yourself is actually one of the best things you can do to practice self-love, which in turn is great for healthy relationships.

Focus on the Present

A common factor associated with romantic expectations is our human nature to stay stuck in the past or worry about the future.

You can shed both of these anxiety-inducing tendencies by bidding adieu to those presumptions.

Focus on your present instead. Enjoy each moment with your date, for time is the one thing we can’t buy.

One thing to remember while pondering over all these – letting go of your expectations is not the same as ignoring your instincts or boundaries.

You should not ignore red flags but at the same time, the past should not prevent you from realizing that you can love again.

Removing presumptions can unlock brand new experiences in your dating adventures.

At the same time, keep your gut feelings in check and don’t let anyone cross your personal boundaries. 

At the end of the day – like most things in life – it’s all about balance!

Explore New Experiences

Keeping an open mind while dating can also allow you to explore new things.

Going into any relationship without assumptions can take you to places you have never experienced before.

Be it the first kiss or the first getaway together – each milestone can happen in a myriad of ways.

Even if it is just one date, it can be quite thrilling when you are ready to dive into someone else’s world.

It opens up new doors to experiences that you would probably never say yes to otherwise.

If it doesn’t work out in the end, at least you will have quite a story to tell!