Focusing too much on looks, muscles, job titles, swag, and men who are unavailable or uninterested in them etc. vs. stability, commitment, kindness, dependability, and men who want them and are attracted to them.
^^
I've never been married before, but I can definitely attest to this lol.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't for one minute wish I ended up w/some of the guys that I dated or were into me in the past
, and I'm not EXTREMELY picky like some women. However, I do notice that as I 've gotten older, my "list" of requirements has relaxed somewhat.
Now I'm MUCH more interested in the things you mentioned above such as stability, commitment, kindness, a man who is genuinely IN LOVE with me, etc. Those other frivolous aforementioned things don't even really turn my head anymore, because I was once involved and LOVED to death a man who had swag, muscles, good looks, charming personality, etc. but he was also moody, treated me hot and cold, an undercover jerk,and wasn't as "into" me as I was into him. So now I don't put as much stock in a man who possesses those qualities ALONE. Now I'll look more into a man's personality, how he treats me, how he treats others, is he dependable, reliable, loyal? etc....
I only asked because I never actually sat down and made a list.
I need to though. Am I the only woman who doesn't have a list of what her future hubby should be like? LOL!
After a major bad break up that left me heart broken, I made a list years ago. I just one day sat down and told myself that I was going to make a list and not care how much or how little I wrote. I was just going to write down WHATEVER came to my mind about the type of man I would LOVE to be with, and write freely without any judgement. Girl, do you know that my list was like 70+ items long??
I was glad I wrote down to my heart's content, because then I took that list of 70+ items and narrowed it down to only 10 qualities in a man that I definitely wanted and that I would need for me to feel happy, loved, and fulfilled in a relationship. I still have that list to this very day.
I'm actually GLAD I did that exercise, because it made me VERY aware of what I want and DON'T want in a future husband.
It made me realize not to settle. It made things very clear to me the type of man I want and don't want in my life. I think it's energizing to make a list.
You dont' have to stick to it like glue, but if a man has 7 or 8 qualities out of the 10 on your list, why not give him a chance? I'm much more relaxed in my requirements these days, but there are some things I will not compromise on (loyalty, loves God, loving, kind, easy-going, laid back, responsible, wants a family eventually, chemistry etc) . A lot of the things on my list aren't even so much about the guy, but how I want to FEEL (loved, protected, cherished, able to be myself, happy, laughing, etc) when I'm with my future husband.