Ive heard it time and time again

Weve gone on a couple of dates but I still dont feel any chemistry. Were just missing that spark, you know?

The spark. The spark. Oh that elusive spark.

You cant put your finger on itbut you KNOW when its there and you definitely know when its not.

Butdo you really know how to spot a spark?

Ive noticed a problem guys encounter in dating: they think that a spark naturally just happens. And when it doesnt happen, they think it wasnt meant to be.

I hear guys recount stories about how they found a woman attractive but the overall vibe wasnt there. And they feel like there was absolutely nothing they could do to change the situation it was up to fate to make them feel something more.

Im here to argue AGAINST fate. Im telling you that a lot of the time, you can create the spark yourself its just hiding underneath the surface. All it needs is a little kindling, a little TLC, and a small flame to get it going.

Dont give up so easily on a connection that could just need a little more stoking to ignite. Make the most of your opportunities and learn how to build that chemistry for yourself.


What is that spark and how does it feel?

First, its important to understand whats exactly going on when you feel that spark.

That instant connection happens when you experience an overwhelming, visceral desire for someone. Not just sexually but as a person, too. Its those moments when youre both so damn excited to learn more about each other and share personal stories. And its that feeling when you just dont want the night to end.

This spark is more accurately described as emotional attraction.

You feel emotional attraction to people with highly desirable qualities. Youre drawn to people you see as valuable.

So if you want to feel that spark with someone, you need to discover something about them that you admire. You have to see character traits that you truly respect, like intellect, creativity, or ambition. You have to experience firsthand their fun sense of humor.

In some instances, a woman is obvious about what she has to offer. She shows you her best qualities, all on her own. This then makes it easy for you to get intrigued and feel like there was a natural connection.

But in many cases, a woman doesnt necessarily seize the opportunity to show the best parts of herself but that doesnt mean they dont exist! When you dont get a chance to see those wonderful qualities in such a short time frame, you assume that theres no spark and there never will be.

When in reality, she may just need a little nudging to bring out her most interesting, unique self.

Why we dont feel the spark sometimes
There are numerous reasons why someones best self isnt always revealed right away.

The first few dates with someone can be nerve wracking. Youre concerned about how youre going to be perceived and whether or not youll be judged. You dont want to come across as too eager or too available.

So many of us wear a mask with new people. We dont drop them until we know for sure that were accepted and we wont get hurt.

This is especially true for a lot of young women in courtship. They have gotten used to being on guard and protective of their personal lives.

A woman usually wants a man to be the one to take the first step of expressing his more unique, edgy, or quirky side. That way, she can get a clearer picture of who he is and determine whether or not shes ready to reveal herself, too.

But if you dont take initiative in getting more personaland neither does shewell, you can just about imagine the most boring, crickets-chirping, tumbleweeds-blowing kind of date conversation. No spark whatsoever.

So the tough answer to creating a spark is: youve got to take the lead.

Creating positive emotions = creating sparks

Let me paint the picture of what happens on a date where nobody digs past surface-level conversation

Youre both feeling a bit apprehensive. You ask factual questions about topics you dont really care about. Youre just filling dead air.

She then answers your questions with half-hearted, short answers. Her voice is calm not impassioned or excited to share her next sentence with you.

You start to feel apathetic and disconnected. You havent revealed anything interesting about her and you sure as hell havent revealed anything interesting about yourself. You check your watch for the time.

You, my friend, are caught in a negative emotion loop. And youve got to break the cycle to create some real emotional attraction.

Only YOU know what turns you on or off in a woman. Only YOU know what makes for a really enjoyable date for you.

So instead of waiting around and hoping for her to show you a good time, why not uncover her fun side for yourself? Why not help her reveal whether or not shes got those amazing qualities you desire? Youve got to stop being passive and play some offense.

When you take that lead, a new, positive emotion loop is formed. The picture has changed drastically

She answers your thought-provoking questions and you learn that shes got a wild side. Youre surprised and immediately captivated. You lean forward and get curious about her ambition. Your eyes widen, your face becomes more expressive, and your voice is brimming with excitement. Your words flow freely and you lose yourself in the moment.

She starts to feel your warmth and approval. She engages you back with openness. She answers your questions with personal details and funny anecdotes. She smiles widely and playfully teases you.

Youre getting to see the qualities that make HER attractive. Shes getting to see the qualities that make YOU attractive.

And zing! Sparks fly.

Sparks are only possible when you know what you want
To create this positive emotion loop, start by thinking back to your previous dates or relationships.

Whats the best date youve ever had? Whats the worst? Who have you been the most attracted to or excited about? Who you did you feel zero chemistry with?

Have you thought of a couple of examples? Great, now dig into why you felt this way.

What did they say or do that made you feel either positive or negative towards them?

If you dont have that much dating experience or find this challenging, thats okay. Instead, reflect on what you like or dislike in people in general.

Write down these ideas. Here are some examples:

Things I like in a potential partner: ambition, sex-positivity, is comfortable with flirting and intimate topics, has a dark sense of humor (or an appreciation for it), is open to controversial discussions, is okay with disagreeing, believes love exists, is curious about future technology even if its not their number one thing.

Things I dislike in a potential partner: obsessive social media use, hates having pets, anti-drug, anti-games, is anti-social (its fine if theyre an introvert but they cant shame other people for being social), expects to have everything paid for them, is looking for a relationship based on their partners money.
How to see if she has what youre looking for

From there, choose a few characteristics that are really important to you. Brainstorm ideas about how you could figure out whether or not a new date possesses those qualities.

Consider the questions you could ask or the statements and actions you could take. For example, lets say

You want a woman who is more comfortable with her sexuality.

As youre getting to know each other better, test the waters and ask her a slightly more intimate question: How important do you think a strong sexually connection is for a relationship? This gives her the chance to open up and embrace her sexual side or say that she needs more time to share that with you. Or, youll know the truth when she tells you that sex makes her uncomfortable, ignores the question, or is honest about her opposition to sex before marriage.

You want a woman whos looking for a deeper connection and doesnt expect a guy to only take care of her financially.

After youve paid for a dinner or two, when the check comes for drinks at the bar, say, How about you grab this round? Youll see how she reacts: either shes happy to pay and totally unphased OR you could see hesitance, a discontented facial expression, or even a verbal challenge.

You dont want someone who is judgmental about your nerdy hobbies.

Ask her something like, What do you think about virtual realitys role in our future society? Discuss the topics you love and be honest about your pursuits. For me, Ive told women about my past in competitive gaming and watched their responses. Now because of that, Im living the good life, playing video games with my awesome wife.

You dont want a partner who believes all drugs are evil and wont let you ever smoke a joint.

Ask, What do you think about all the states legalizing marijuana recently? or Have you ever smoked? What did you think? Be transparent about how you sometimes smoke with friends to unwind.

You want a girl who balances using social media with living in the real world.

Lead with how you dont use social media that much and youve personally felt happier because of it. Ask her (in a non-accusing tone), How do you feel about Instagram? What do you like about it? She might say that she finds great artistic inspiration from seeing other peoples posts and she likes to keep in touch with old friends by commenting on their pictures. OR you might figure out that she really only likes social media to post selfies and take pictures of sushi. Either way, now you know.
This is best your opportunity to make sparks fly

A date is largely about determining compatibility. Dont judge a woman until youve given her a chance to show you who she reallyis. This is your shot to see if that spark could be there, even when its not immediately apparent.

When you play it safe and wait for chemistry to just happen, youre killing your chances of creating emotional attraction. But every time you take the lead, you give the two of you the possibility to reveal your true selves and feel something more.

Even if this only goes to show that youre not compatible with someone, thats great. Its better to know sooner than later.

Doing this also shows a woman that youre a man who knows what he wants. This is the essence of self-confidence and makes you that much more attractive.

When you lead with what you want, youre more likely to get it.

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These articles are created as a way to educate our members with tips and tricks of finding love in this day and age. It's a very different landscape out there than it was even 10 years ago. Everything is different with COVID and people are struggling. We want to help you find your person at "The Flock". That's the whole point. But to do that, education is important. Love and respect, Todd Staples. Founder of "The Flock"