Confidence is the major factor when giving a good first impression to a first date. Relationships, thus, depend on one’s ability to be confident in his or her abilities and actions. But confidence isn’t something that befalls everyone- indeed, it can be a hard characteristic to obtain.

Above all else, how one thinks about how they look or act is the biggest flaw in one’s confidence. If you feel that you aren’t good looking, have a poor personality, or just don’t see yourself as a “good catch,” your confidence is going to likewise suffer. In this case, it’s best to either become comfortable with yourself, or fix what you see wrong to the best of your ability.

A good way to exert confidence in a relationship is to be three things: outgoing, talkative, and carefree. All three characteristics will give off the impression that you are confident- when in fact you might not be. Of course, being talkative and outgoing can be tough for someone new to the confidence game. If nothing else, one can always be carefree- just relax on your date, there are plenty of options should one date not work out!

Although confidence is always a good thing, it can often be confused with arrogance. If you want to impress your date, you will do good to avoid arrogance at all costs. If you appear overly confident or self centered, then it is highly likely that your date will start to lose interest. After all- who wants to carry on a conversation with someone who only cares to talk about their own life, without showing interest in the other person?

Another common flaw in confidence comes from one’s living arrangement. If you live with your parents, have a small or dirty home, or have a home full of animals that give foul odor to your home, your confidence is much likelier to be lowered. In these cases, it’s best to go on a date with the mindset that if the person truly is the “one” for you, they would see past any shortcomings you may have in your living arrangement.

The biggest boost to one’s confidence comes from simply doing something they know best. If you were an all-star baseball player in highschool- it might be fun to take your date out to the batting cages. Doing something you know will always show that you know what you’re doing- and thus, confidence will be sure to follow no matter what the scenario.

Lastly, it is important to not take any failures as a sign that you lack confidence- not all relationships are determined by confidence. But as studies show, the opposite gender will be much more likely to be attracted to someone of their type if they do indeed exert confidence.

Above all else, always try to have fun on the first date, and any dates following should you leave a good impression. Always try to exert confidence- even if you have to fake it. As you become more experienced in the matter, confidence will come naturally- all you need is the time and experience in which to find it.