This just goes to say that anyone who joins in company of a like-minded group will have a big chance of being influenced by personality of that group. So what can you do if you're surrounded by people who deviates from your way of thinking?

You can't just avoid them. They'll think of you as a snob. Don't change way you treat them, but simply learn how to shield out pessimistic comments or suggestions. Sometimes, they will dictate you to do what you are against to do. Be firm with what you believe in. Do not let them affect your decisions. You know that you can do what they thought would be impossible. If you have to suffer ridicule, so be it. You will have last laugh anyway.

Moreover, you should be with people who have same principles and ideologies as you do. You will be more encouraged to continue your dreams if you have a support group or mentor who will prod you to pursue your goals despite setbacks.

When I was starting my internet endeavors, no one (and I mean not even one) of my relatives and friends believed me. But I did not let their discouragement stop me from becoming successful.

I remained firm in my quest to make a living online. I made friends with respected internet marketers who shared same vision as mine. They have also experienced same treatment from non-believers; but they have proven that what mind can conceive, it can achieve. Through their help, I was able to put aside my doubts and achieve my goals.

You have power to make your dreams a reality. Now show world what stuff you are made of.

It hurts to guess wrong, but you’ll recover as long as you don’t take it personally.

HE WANTS MARRIAGE WITH HER, SHE WANTS MARRIAGE BUT NOT WITH HIM

Al, a widower, doesn’t know how to live unmarried and dates with intent of finding a new wife. Anna was thrilled to find a playmate for tennis and dancing. The first time they played tennis, Al invited her back to his house for a drink. They ran into friends of his at sports club, and Al always introduced her, saying, “They’re old friends. We’ll have to do some things with them.”

This is a sad situation because Anna liked Al a lot, but there wasn’t a connection there for marriage. His dating style revealed him to be a good candidate for marriage, and Anna could only feel, as you will too, “What a shame this isn’t a fit.”

TOM IS ‘GOOD BUT CONFUSED’

Tom, newly divorced, kept flirting with Nancy at parties. He even asked for her phone number, which she gladly gave as she liked him, but he never called.

Deciding to move on it, next time she ran into him, Nancy pulled him aside for a conversation. Tom quickly began talking about his broken heart, eventually admitting he wasn’t ready to date.

Both parties learned important things. Tom liked Nancy but knew he had nothing to offer at time, and conversation allowed him to quit doing what he was doing, which wasn’t serving anyone’s interests. (Someone like Tom can benefit from coaching or therapy. Nancy was wise not to try and do this herself.)

REWINDING

When you realize it isn’t going to work out, you face everyone’s least favorite situation: ending it without hurting feelings.

Pros get used to ins and outs of it, but if you’re new, it will hit you hard. After all, you’re lonely, you’re looking, you have feelings, and you know others do too. It takes finesse. You may move in same circles, or have been introduced by a joint acquaintance.

The key is to remember that you don’t do anyone a favor by “pitying” them, using them to temporarily fill a void, or by projecting too much of your own feelings on another. When you know it’s not there for you, it’s kinder to exit gracefully and free them to get on with it.

With experience, you’ll get quicker at assessing your own feelings and potential of relationship, and better at gracious exit. Just remember, there’s nothing compassionate about a lie. Everyone deserves someone who truly loves them.

If you’re after a caring romance but not marriage, and find a suitable candidate, monitor it closely. One of you may fall in love while other one doesn’t. You need to be able to pull out of this when necessary to save your heart, or hers.

Generally speaking, men are more capable of sex without emotion. Stay alert. If you start going under water and he isn’t, throw yourself an inner tube. Not that you won’t survive, but why put yourself through it?

You needn’t be responsible for other’s feelings, but when you’ve reached a decision-point, talk it out and do right thing. You’ll feel better about yourself and help everyone else who’s in game.

If you’re honest and decent about it, you’ll build good dating self-esteem. The actual relationship may not work out, but you’ll both be fine and go on to look for, and eventually get, what you really want.