True friendship is where long-lasting love comes from. Romance built on physical attraction and infatuation will not last beyond the first few intimate encounters. Concentrate on being a friend first and above all else. Unconditional acceptance is the basis of true friendship, and learning to accept another just as they are is harder than it sounds. Concentrate on developing unconditional acceptance of your new potential partner and you will have your hands full!

You will be so busy that you will not have time for any other worries! We all bring cultural beliefs, opinions and desires to the table, and we especially have desires for how we want a new partner to feel, think and act. These are the things to concentrate changing within yourself. Whenever you feel yourself wanting someone to act, think or feel differently, turn that feeling inward and try to feel unconditional acceptance of that person instead. Learn to accept others just as they are.

Do not try to change them; do not even let yourself wish that they would change. This is not an easy task, and working on this will keep you busy in the early stages of your relationship. Focusing on growth within yourself and unconditional acceptance of another plants the true seeds of real friendship. Unconditional acceptance builds the foundation for a long-lasting romance with true staying power and the ability to weather the many storms that life brings.