Many people say they have looked, but there’s just no one out there that they would want to have a relationship with. There are many ways to have a relationship and looking beyond the traditional can be eye-opening.

A key factor here is attitude. Having an open mind is not the same as having low standards – it just means your perfect partner may not be what you imagined, but they can still be perfect. They may not fit with your mindset in so many ways, but they just might fit with your values, your sense of humour. 

Do you have a list of non-negotiables? Take another look and reprioritise your list by values. Find out more about dating issues in Uncoupling, an insider’s guide to separation in New Zealand.