Two people are genuinely attracted to each other and start going out. They are hopeful that the relationship will become something special that will lead to marriage and a lifelong soul mate. Things look good for a while, but somehow something breaks down between them, causing heartache, frustration, and loneliness. And, more often than not, the scenario repeats itself in other relationships down the line.

Dating does have its risks. By its very nature, dating is experimental, with little commitment initially. Putting a lot of emotional investment into a relationship can be dangerous. Thus, dating works best between two responsible people. 
Simply put, many of the struggles people experience in dating relationships are, at heart, caused by some problem in the areas of freedom and responsibility. By freedom, we mean your ability to make choices based on your values, rather that choosing out of fear or guilt. Free people make commitments because they feel it’s the right thing to d, and they are wholehearted about it. By responsibility, we mean your ability to execute your tasks in keeping the relationship healthy and loving, as well as being able to say no to the things you shouldn’t be responsible for. Responsible people shoulder their part of the dating relationship, but they don’t tolerate harmful or inappropriate behavior.

Dating is Ultimately about Love.
Dating is ultimately about love. People seek it though dating. When they find it, and it matures, they often make deep commitments to each other. Freedom and responsibility are necessary for love to develop in dating. When two individuals allow each other freedom and take ownership of the relationship, they are creating an environment for love to grow and mature.
We believe that healthy boundaries are the key to preserving freedom, responsibility, and ultimately love, in your dating life. Establishing and keeping good limits can do a great deal to not only cure a bad relationship, but also make a good one better.

Boundaries serve two very important functions.

First, they define us. Boundaries show what we are and are not; what we agree and disagree with; what we love and hate.

The second function of boundaries is that they protect us.
Boundaries keep good things in and bad things out. When we don’t have clear limits, we can expose ourselves to unhealthy and destructive influences and people. 
Sometimes you will use these boundaries to simply let your date know your heart. At other times, you may need to use bounties to confront a problem and protect yourself or the relationship: "I will not go as far as want sexually, and if you continue pushing, I will not see you again." Either way, boundaries give you freedom and choices.

How boundary problems show themselves...
There are lots of ways that dating suffers when freedom and responsibility are not appropriately present. Here are a few of them:

1. Lose of freedom to be oneself.
2. Being with the wrong person.
3. Dating from inner hurt rather that our values.
4. Not dating.
5. Doing too much in a relationship.
6. Freedom without responsibility.
7. Control issues.
8. Not taking responsibility to say no.

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