Be yourself, If you don't know HER make sure you take the time to find HER. I say this is the most important step into dating for many reasons; by making sure you find yourself you will save yourself from so much headache by avoiding toxic relationships. A lot of us don't even realize but we aren't comfortable being alone, I was this way. Learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Learn to enjoy your own company. Once you've accomplished this it is so easy to be yourself when dating. Putting up an act to get someone can get old and very tiring, and who wants to spend a lifetime with someone when they can't even be themselves? Trust me you rather lose the person being yourself than get with him putting up a complete act. Many ways to get comfortable in your skin and enjoy your own company, to do this seek and you shall find.
Make sure to heal from past relationships do not rush into another relationship to fill a void. Understand that not everyone who was put into your life was meant to stay. People come and go and each person was put there to teach you specific life lessons. Learn from each relationship but don't hang on too long. Take the good times hold on to them and learn from all the negative. If you don't allow yourself to heal I promise you will only rush into another toxic relationship.
Never settle, It's better to be alone than to be with someone who isn't going to treat you like his queen. You are important you are unique; there is only one of you Don't you ever forget that. You're super RARE. Never ignore red flags. If a man shows/tells you who is take his word. Stop trying to change him. You might change him for a bit but those negative character traits will appear later down. I promise. Take my word for it.
Stop fearing rejection. It's part of the game! It happens to the best of us! It's okay to get turned down. Respect yourself and move on. Don't be clingy, don't give him attention he doesn't deserve. To beat yourself up over it is the worst thing you can do. Think about how many times the perfect person has come into your life and you were emotionally not available. You can avoid all this but just letting go. I will tell you again it's not a big deal!
Make him wait!!! I always say this to any female I speak to! “Won't he leave?” well if he leaves he only wanted you for the juice box. If anything you should be happy you got that answer very fast instead of throwing yourself down an emotional rollercoaster. A man who is pursuing a chick who he really likes will NOT leave because you made him wait. If anything he will think to himself “Woah who is this gem, this is rare!” “How long should you make him wait?” If it was me I would make him wait for three months.