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How Modern Dating Culture Stops Him from Taking You Seriously

Do you feel like you have “dating burnout”? Like modern single life is a treadmill of flaky guys, false hope and meaningless hookups?

If you’re still interested in finding real, deep, meaningful commitment in modern dating (yes, it does exist), I need you to stop what you’re doing and watch this video now.

Has Caring Too Much Ever Sabotaged Your Relationship?
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Leave a Comment Below…

I don’t need to be a mind reader to know that an enormous number of people watching this video right now feel this…

“Dating Sucks…”

Now why do they feel this way?

Because they want to create something real.

Chances are if you’re watching this video, you want to create something real.

You wanna find someone who values you. Find someone who invests in you. Who you can invest in. Someone who you can build something enduring with, but instead here’s what you get…

Casual dating, meaningless hookups, and mixed, confusing-ass signals.

Now this leaves people very frustrated.

It leaves them wondering if what they’re looking for is actually out there.

I recently ran an exclusive closed-door event for my closest clients.

It was invite-only, and I made them one promise:

I am gonna talk all day about how to create a real and lasting relationship, and avoid the casual dating, hookup culture we feel like we’re currently existing in.

What I’m about to show you is a clip from that private event.

A moment that highlights the frustration people are feeling right now that we’re talking about here. And watch all the way to the end, because after that clip, I’m gonna join you back here to show you a strange, counter-intuitive way that that frustration I’m talking about could actually be costing you the real relationship you’re looking for.

Check it out.

************************************************************************

Audience Guest: “Hi Matthew. Good to see you. Welcome back to NYC.”

Matthew: “Thank you for having me.”

Audience Guest: “The content that you have today is really amazing, and I’m really happy to be here. That’s first of all.”

Matthew: “Thank you.”

Audience Guest: “Recently, I had a conversation with a gentleman who said to me, ‘You know, Cecilia? You are intimidating to men. You are too smart. Guys can’t get over on you, and that’s gonna be a problem for you.’ And I thought, ‘I don’t wanna guy in my life that’s gonna be intimidated by my strength. I want someone that’s gonna embrace my strength, and who I am as a human being, and as a woman.’ As I get older I find that it is a little harder, and I ask, how can I allow myself to be open to love, finding a great partner who’s gonna embrace who I am?”

Matthew: “What you’re saying works on the presumption that men inherently find smart women unattractive, or intimidating. Some men are intimidated by smart women. Some men are intimidated by women who have found their purpose, who have found something that they really enjoy doing. Especially if those men haven’t found what they enjoy doing.

“Some men are intimidated by women who go to the gym a lot. [Laughter] Especially if they can’t get themselves to kinda get into a routine with that.

“I mean I just think that the…higher a frequency you’re living on, the less people are gonna be either available to you or desirable to you.”

Audience Guest: “So how do I find love if that’s the case? My pool is getting smaller and smaller. I’m not getting any younger. [Laughter] I’m sorry…”

Matthew: “I just think that it doesn’t help you to think about it in the macro like that. Like you’re thinking about it at this bird’s eye view of, you know, ‘My pool is getting smaller, and men don’t like… They’re intimidated by intelligent women, and this, and that,’ and… I just… I don’t…

“My friend is a doctor, and he told me a phrase once, he said, ‘statistics don’t matter to the individual.’

“In medicine, when someone has a rare disease, the fact that only one in a hundred thousand people get  that disease is irrelevant to the person that got the disease. Right? Statistics don’t matter to the individual. And I would say that on a relationship level, statistics don’t matter to you either, and won’t matter to you when you meet someone special.

“It won’t matter to you what the economics are right now of finding a relationship.

“It only matters to you now because those are the terms that you’re thinking in, and I just don’t think that it serves you to think in those terms. If I had thought in those terms about business, I never would have started a business. The results of businesses succeeding–new businesses–are so low that if you went by that you would never start a business.

“But I didn’t start a business to overcome the odds of business. I started a business because I had something I really wanted to say, and do, and I wanted to live a life where I wasn’t going into a job I hated. So it was a different thing driving me.

“And I understand your point. I’m not minimizing that it’s difficult to find someone special.

“It is.

“It one hundred percent is.

“The good news is that everyone’s feeling the same way.

“Right? Everyone’s feeling that.

“No one is… It’s…

“It’s really hard no matter who you are.

“You could be a person that like a hundred men are throwing themselves at you a day… It still doesn’t mean you’re gonna find anyone you wanna spend your life with.

“It’s just hard for everyone, but again I don’t think that it’s because you’re smart. I just think that the more you achieve in life, and the more you drive yourself, the less people you feel… You could still connect to everybody, ’cause I think there’s something to learn from everyone… but there are less people that will just resonate on that frequency that you’re on, and you know, that’s okay. That just means you have high standards, and you have to keep doing it.

“And if your view is, ‘I can’t keep doing it.’ Then I say, what is the thing that you keep doing that you’re deciding you’re not gonna do anymore? I would like to know Cecilia, if you said to me, ‘Matt, the whole point of me saying this, is because I’m about to give up.’ What are you giving up? That’s what I wanna know. What’s the behavior, what’s the thing that you’re gonna stop doing because you’re sick and tired of not meeting the right man? Tell me that.”

Audience Guest: “I don’t know, because I think I’m doing a lot of different things to try and meet the right guy.”

Matthew: “So what’s the thing that is disrupting your life right now that you don’t wanna do anymore?”

Audience Guest: “I don’t wanna worry about it. I want it to happen organically.”

Matthew: “Okay, but like what does that mean? You want it to happen when you’re laying in bed?”

Audience Guest: “I’m standing at a cafe… I’m gonna use one of your lines. I’m standing at a cafe, and I actually start chatting with someone.”

Matthew: “Okay great, but that’s not organic. That’s you trying.”

Audience Guest: “Well…” [Laughter]

Matthew: “So again, what’s the thing, like…I’m challenging you right now, and I know you can take it, but I… I don’t know what your question is. Is your question, ‘Is it hard to meet someone that you spend the rest of your life with?’ Yes. Is your question, ‘Do I really want this?’ I think, probably the answer is ‘yes.’”

Audience Guest: “Yes.”

Matthew: “Right? ‘Cause it’s an experience of life you wanna have.”

Audience Guest: “Yes.”

Matthew: “Is your question, ‘Should I give up?’ Well, to that I respond, what are you giving up? Leaving the house? What are you giving up? Not doing new things? What are you giving up? Going on dates sometimes? What’s the thing that you would give up?

“I challenge all of you: What’s the thing you would give up?

“Because to me, none of the things that you do to meet someone, apart from spending hours and hours online, which I don’t support anyway. [Laughter] But none of the things that you do to meet someone are things that wouldn’t be good for your life anyway.

“If I took off the table the idea of ever meeting your dream guy. Let’s just remove that. I take it off the table. Never gonna happen. I’ve literally made sure that can’t happen for you. I’ve eliminated every man on earth that could be your perfect man. [Laughter]

“Okay.

“I’m curious as to how many of you would stop having conversations with people in general.

“How many people would say, ‘Well, since I can’t find the one, I’m just gonna stop socializing. I’m just gonna stop going on dates at all. You know? I’m gonna give up the whole sex thing. Like I’m gonna just… I’m not gonna do any of this.’

“I don’t buy it for a second.

“What you would do is you’d say, ‘Okay… Well, I guess I’ll go on some fun dates that won’t turn out to be the one, but you know, I’ll just have some fun times. You know, go out and enjoy meeting new people. Stay curious, get to know people’s stories, and I’ll make the best of it, but I can’t give up this part of me. Cause it’s in me. It is me. It’s part of me being a woman who wants to go out there and explore, and meet people, and connect, and be intimate, and be warm, and be affectionate. I’m not gonna give up all of that.’

“Cecilia, what you have to ask yourself is…

“I get the frustration. I get it. And I’m not minimizing that, and I understand the frustration of searching for someone really special, and right now it’s not happening, that person isn’t there.

“But you have to get back to that question:

“What would I do differently if I decided to give up the search?

“What thing would I give up in my life?

“Because I put to you that it would be very hard for you to name something that you would give up that wouldn’t cost you in other ways.

“That wouldn’t actually hurt your sense of joy, and fun, and fulfillment in other ways by deciding, ‘This isn’t for me.’ I can’t see it. What would you stop? Dating? Dating is fun. Like even if it’s not the love of your life, like going on a date, and sometimes there’s chemistry, or sometimes you get a new friend out of it, or sometimes… Who knows? Like would you really give up any connection to the opposite sex?

“Like, I don’t know… I can’t see it. I can’t see it.

“So I think that there’s so many things we do in pursuit of that person, that are worth doing for their own sake, that it’s almost not even worth worrying about in the way that you’re worrying about it. It’s just like… Just keep taking chances.

“Keep being proactive.

“Keep being the kind of person that steps out of her comfort zone.

“Keep being the kind of person that puts herself around other people.

“Keep being the type of person that is open to experiences in life.

“In that is being open to love, but we don’t even need to call it that. Just be someone who is open to experiences, and should you find yourself in a situation where it seems to be getting intimate or whatever and you like the person, do everything we’ve talked about today to make sure that you give yourself the best possible chance of being taken seriously by that person.

“Let’s keep going. Thank you so much by the way.”

************************************************************************

Look, I wanna make one thing clear. While I believe that there are many things that we do that will bring us a relationship that are good for their own sake, and worth doing even if they don’t bring us the love of our life, I understand and respect how hard it is out there.

You are dealing with so much crap.

People who have just the worst behavior. People who will do anything to use you. People who will string you along even though they have no intention of taking things anywhere meaningful or serious.

The frustration you have with that is one thousand percent understandable, but that frustration has a bad side effect for your love life. That frustration leads to the feeling that there really isn’t anyone out there, or at least the suspicion that that thing you’ve always been looking for might never come.

That leads to a scarcity mindset.

When you have a scarcity mindset it puts you in a dangerous position, because when someone comes along who has even a mild connection with you, someone who shows you a glimpse of what you’re looking for, you latch on.

You get so excited about it.

So grateful for it that you’ll do anything to keep it.

Now that’s very dangerous, because when you’ll do anything to keep something, when you see the potential of it, and you’ll do whatever you can to make sure that goes somewhere you start being more forgiving of bad behavior, and maybe not even bad behavior, but someone not giving you what you want.

Someone treating you worse than you deserve.

Someone not truly investing in you.

We start making excuses for them.

We start justifying it, because god forbid it goes away altogether.

When would you find someone again?

You have a connection. You wanna hold on to it, right?

Now here’s the really dangerous part.

When you start accepting worse behavior this person begins to value you less.

So it looks like this:

Having a scarcity mindset about what’s out there makes us accept worse behavior from the person we’re with. When they see us accepting bad behavior from them, or low investment from them, they stop taking us seriously, because they look at us, and consciously or unconsciously, they think, “What kind of person would allow me to treat them like this? Not someone that I should take seriously. Not someone that I would have a relationship with.” So now, even if that person had the potential to have a relationship with you, they’re starting to see you as lower value.

They’re starting to see you as someone who may not be worthy of a real relationship, because you’re treating yourself like you’re not worthy of a real relationship.

So the irony of all of this is the thing you value the most, which you’re letting get away with murder, because you value it the most now values you less precisely because that’s what you’re doing.

So I’m talking to you right now if you are looking for something real, because let me tell you this, if you wanna attract the real you have to be prepared to sacrifice the bullshit, and when I say the bullshit, I mean the bullshit version of a relationship that you’re currently being offered.

The pseudo relationship.

The halfway house.

The breadcrumbing that you’re sick of.

The people disappearing or ghosting you that you’re sick of.

If you actually want to be taken seriously you have to prepared to sacrifice the bullshit. And by the way, sacrificing the bullshit can mean giving up the guy so that you can go out there and find someone who’s serious, or it could mean sacrificing the current dynamic and taking the risk to graduate it into something more. The death of the bullshit you have with him right now and the birth of a better, new dynamic that you have with this person because they now take you more seriously.

So I’m on a campaign right now for those people who want something real to show you exactly how to create it.

I wanna walk you down the path that you actually want to go down, because this isn’t about an unrealistic level of optimism.

I know how hard it is to meet someone you really like.

How hard it is to meet someone that you actually wanna make it work with.

So when you do meet that person, you wanna do the right things.

Join me next week, ’cause we’re gonna be continuing this conversation, and we’re gonna make some serious progress together.

For now, leave me a comment.

Letting me know, A: If you’ve fallen into this trap before, and you can relate to it. A time when you cared so much that that caring actually lead you to doing some of the wrong things.

And B: If you’re ready to finally create something real.

I can’t wait to read those, and I will see you next week.

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273 Replies to “How Modern Dating Culture Stops Him from Taking You Seriously”

  • I did this in a relationship I was in several years ago. I was so lonely that I put up with a guy who had a personality disorder. There’s no cure for one of those. It’s not even like bipolar disorder.

    Like you said, the more bad behavior I put up with, the less and less he respected me. He even told my sister that he did not respect me.

    Now I have finally met someone I might want to have a relationship with but I don’t want to make that mistake again. I am determined to go slowly, not sleep with him out of loneliness and maintain my self-respect.

    But I know it won’t be easy because I have been alone for so many intervening years.

  • I’ve been in this trap for three years. I’ve tried to leave so many times and keep getting pulled back. We served together and have a connection that’s intensely strong. However, he does not treat me well and constantly takes me for granted. I need help to end this cycle.

  • It’s so true what you say, but how would you know if that person is really not interested or he thinks the same of me and that’s why he doesn’t reach out.
    If he doesn’t reach then I shouldn’t at all?… and move on with even thinking twice?

  • U nailed what just happened to me! It was dead on! I would love to hear any suggestions about healing from it in order to build the strength to move on easier.

  • I met a nice guy online who seem ideal but all we do is send messages back and fourth. He has a son and i have offered dates. Then I met another guy who seem interested, we exchanged numbers but not straight away. I sent him a message, he replied but he was out at his sister’s and I was also busy with an application. I have sent him two messages but now no reply.

    What is going on?

  • Hi there!

    Definitely feeling in this exact boat. I have said several times to my friends and family over the last month how dating sucks, and feel myself getting bitter. But the thing i would stop is the online dating for sure. It is exhausting! But as a full time nurse, I am just not sure how else to meet someone. I am definitely ready for something real! I have got stuck in a relationship in the past because he paid attention to me, and I liked that. It went on 2.5 years too long, but I feel like it was a good learning opportunity. That being said, I am so fearful of getting stuck in something wrong again at my age (I’m 28) that I may be being over picky. I think I have a good set of standards, with the most important parts being respected and loved as myself. One of my best friends told me this last week that I need to lower my standards, and the more I thought about it, the more upset I got. Shouldn’t she want me to have the best thing for me? Shouldn’t she have higher standards for me than I do even for myself? That’s how I feel about my friends anyways. I just want that connection and forever love with that undeniable chemistry that so many people have. Why am I less special that I don’t deserve this too? If that’s Called having too high of standards, then I’d rather just stay alone.

    Thanks for this video! Can’t wait for next week.

  • I did this with my husband. I allowed bad behavior. We finally split. It’s been a few years now. Not dating much. It’s harder at 57. I’m using lots of discernment. Thanks

  • The one thing I’d be giving up? Falling in love. I’m tired of falling in love only to be betrayed, lied to, and strung along, and it’s not like it’s something I let happen over and over again with the same person but with different people. I walk away the first time I’m lied to, cheated on or betrayed but that doesn’t stop this crap from happening with different people over and over again. So when yoi ask what is the thing I’d give up? It’s falling in love. I live a perfectly happy life without this relationship bullshit and it’s actually the one thing that kills my vibe, being with someone shoikd be an addition to my life not a burden, but I have only learned that it’s a burden. Recently a guy broke up with me because he claimed he was too stressed with work, being in debt and dealing with the stress of work career and life etc (aka bullshit) and even though he said he knew he was losing the best woman he’s ever met in his life he feels it’s not fair that he’s not as deeply in love with me as I was with him and he said he knew I gave him unconditional love and freedom but he wanted more space than I already give… This was the most recent and the most puzzling fallout ever especially after he spent over a year chasing me bevause Ive always been the I don’t want to deal with relationships cause they make me unhappy kind of girl, I gave him a chance, fell in love and got fucked over and heartbroken. So the thing I’d give up is to stop falling in love…. It doesn’t stop me from meeting people as friends but I stop it at.. Let’s go on a date. I’m tired of the bullshit “dates”

  • Yes I have been there….caring too much to accept bad behaviour. I think i do it because i find dating exhausting and don’t want to start again.

  • I just dumped a very attractive man two days ago, after two years of dating. He has a thing about time. He was often late for dates, by hours even days at times. The excuses were always legit sounding; flat tire, family in the hospital, dog missing, ect ect. However, he often would not even let me know ahead of time. I tried talking to him about this and he was always defensive. I tried asking for what I wanted and was completely disregarded. I brought up that this his approach to time management and date follow through was disrespectful to me as a person and he was extremely defensive and looking to argue. I dropped the topic. I know that his father was very rough on him and he is likely anxious avoidant. I also know that his father has a very poor attitude towards women. He is amazing in every other way. Doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t do drugs, is hyper-responsible, a good father, looks after himself and works hard. The chemistry was amazing. I just couldn’t take the disrespect for my time anymore while he denied the issue and indicated that I should have a problem at all. It’s two days of no contact and I’m pained with second guessing my decision and thinking about breaking the no contact…..help.

  • WOW! I can completely relate. I haven’t given up yet, however I feel as if I’m on the cusp. Thanks to you I do put myself out there. I have had to learn to be brave, because you have nothing to lose.
    I’m curious about leading someone on though. I would feel terrible dating someone and letting them believe that I was looking for what they are looking for when I know that I do not see them for long term.
    How do you balance dating?

  • I TOTALLY fell into this! I came off a seven year dating-hiatus into connecting with someone that I really liked and ended up letting him treat me in some pretty awful ways. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Some of it is really insightful!

  • I have most definitely lowered my standards and done the things I said I would never do with a guy (or guys) I got excited about. Often times in a first date cause I have been feeing like I live in a ‘scarcity zone’ for a while. Particularly as I turned 35 and matches on dating apps starting going down. The ‘how modern dating culture stops him from taking you seriously’ has come at the perfect time. I stopped my year long ‘only fun’ relationship that was comfortable and easy cause I didn’t have to or want to commit to him a couple of days ago, and I am investing in myself and enjoying my city more. For sure going to keep tuning in to learn more, and to enjoy the journey that I’m embarking on to find something more meaningful with a lucky someone. Thank you @matthewhussey

  • Hey Matt thanks for the insight on having a real relationship, am actually stuck I have done all I could jus to keep it…I feel we have reached the extent to which he does not take me serious at all…I really love this guy I’ve asked myself what should I give up and found none. Am at that point of “dating sucks” really it’s tiring…but hey thanks for the heads up…I like the open to new experiences and jus live life and not take in bullshit from him anymore
    #Ready

  • Thank you, Matthew, for always being so genuine and caring! It does make me feel good to know there are guys who truly care for women’s well being.
    I must correct you on your assertion that we wouldn’t give up going on (“meaningless, but fun”) dates as a result of being fed up with the whole scene. I have gone into what I call “Dating Dextox” at least THREE times in my life including in my 20s, 30s, and 40s. In fact, I am writing a one-woman show about it. (So far, great response–this shit is hilarious when it;s onstage vs.IRL, per usual with comedy, eh?) And, I have known enough other women who have done this, as well, to know that these *extended periods of elective celibacy (*EPEC, lol) are NOT uncommon. I’ve gone without–and I mean, no date, no dick, no kiss, no cuddle–for over 3 years more than once. When I share this with other women, they often one-up me, saying their “dating detoxes” have lasted 6 years, 8 years, even TWENTY YEARS. Yes, really! And, yes, it is always following a dating disaster. In my case, it was a very healthy thing that I did as part of a necessary healing journey, not a life-long resignation.
    But, here’s more the point: “no big deal” dates (the ones that are neither disastrous nor romantically thrilling) are usually boring, at best, and, miserable, at worst, leaving you feeling even more discouraged than before, and viewing things as even bleaker. And, when you’re lonely (and/or sad, and/or horny, and/or bored, and/or drunk), you might end up going further with this person physically and emotionally. You might even end up in an actual dating relationship with someone you don’t even want, really. Casual dating for women is akin to (but, not synonymous with, mind you) casual sex. Because of female hormones and emotions, it just ends up being more than we signed up for, affecting us more than we thought it could, a kind of risky illusion/delusion.

  • Hey Matt. It’s so right to cut the BS out. I met a guy, felt the spark, and wanted to keep him close! I started to lower my standards, take the BS…. but what would have just taken me months to figure out, if at all in the past, I stood up and pulled him up on it. He disappeared but i know I’m better off without that crap. And what a relief to realise that now rather than 6 months down the line of investment! Love you posts x

  • Leah, PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT HIM. Ask your girlfriends for support in this. Appoint someone as your main accountability partner. It’s like giving up any other addiction and you need support to do it. Think of this person as a “sponsor” like in AA, because what’s more addictive, really, than a man you’re emotionally attached to?
    I think if you shared this with other men, they would immediately suspect that this guy’s disappearing acts are VERY FISHY and that he was unfaithful. He tries to gaslight you when you call him out on this very obviously disrespectful behavior. You aid him in this by downplaying it with your own words: Disappearing for days is not “being late”, my dear, it is ABANDONMENT. Look at the ways in which you attempt to justify it (as we all do). You try to be understanding and consider his back-story and painful psychology…poor guy, his daddy wasn’t kind and stable…Battered women do this all the time. BE VERY CAREFUL HERE.
    We all want to make it better when a man is mistreating us so that it doesn’t hurt so much. We look for reasons, justifications, explanations. But, they’re just excuses–let’s call them what they are. He doesn’t even need to make his own excuses because we are doing it for him. I was in deep with a man who, because of his very traumatic childhood, exclusively dated girls as young as 18 (wtf?) when he was 36. He “couldn’t handle a real woman” like me, he said. (“Real” meaning an actual adult.) Do I believe him? Yes. I know the details of his trauma. Should I have allowed that as an excuse and carried on with him? EFF NOOOO!!! Whatever his reasons, it was still some seriously sick shit and he needed to work through that on his own in therapy, etc., and meanwhile, STAY AWAY FROM DATING. I can feel much compassion for him, but it was ultimately HIS responsibility to heal himself–and not infect anyone else meantime.
    Please do not be lured into the very seductive waters of “psychobabbling” away his cruel behavior. Yes, it is CRUEL to disappear on someone like he has with you. There is NOTHING else that can be “amazing” enough to counter that. He is NOT amazing, Leah. You’re just addicted. When you’re finally able to look through the eyes of sobriety, you will see a VERY different (NON amazing) man. (BTW, by definition, he CAN’T be “hyper-responsible”.)
    I wish you the best, sister! STAY STRONG!

  • Hey Mathew and everybody

    Have to agree in some point about yr statement
    – BUT in other hand
    If the guy is not open to be in a relationship
    He will treat you like nothing happens !
    Vanishing the feeling

    In this case , I put myself on higher standards and go away, leave …. but I’m tired of leaving anyway- it’s a way to learn – but fades my hopes

    I don’t go to many dates, I choose carefully and I think I’m on the right track to Mrs Right

    I have a journal we’re I write/wrote every experience that I had with dates – and it’s helps me to find guys with red flags to avoid

    After all I’m on the path to love —— and my victimize mindset (fade hopes) doesn’t help me anyway

  • Hello Matt,
    I did exactly this: cherishing someone who knocked me off my feet. And I made mistakes in my behaviour in order to keep that man no matter what. Until he did something which was not kind. That made me understand that my value lowered considerably in his eyes. It was hurtfull, but I walked away and found my self esteem again. I never contacted him again. Really hard to do when you are madly in love with someone. But now I am ready for someone new…
    Jass, Munich

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