You might be an old pro at the dating game but there is still a lot of nervousness when it comes to going out with someone for the first time.

It stands the reason you want everything to go right and hopefully it will but upfront you should accept the fact that things will not be absolutely perfect. There are just too many variables that you have no control over to guarantee such a thing.

For instance that nice restaurant that you thought was a best kept secret may be packed to the rafters. Hopefully you made a reservation but that does mean the service won't be a tad slow. It's just one of those things. Or the movie you take your date too was nothing short of awful. Too bad because you had heard through word of mouth how terrific it was. Oh well. Share some laughs about it with your date and move on.

The only thing you have control over is you. And if you want the date to go well enough that you can get another one with this person leave the self consciousness at home.

It can start out as concern. Hoping your date likes you, hoping they have a good time and being on guard that you don't in anyway come off looking bad. These are legitimate concerns yet it does not stop there. The concerns become worries and the worries get intense.

That's all it takes and before you know it the self consciousness has tagged along for the ride. Now to your disappointment you become painfully aware of everything you do or say. And yes it comes off as obvious and awkward.

You start to have a conversation with your date and just one little word gets you to thinking that maybe you shouldn't have said what you said. So you clam up or get way too guarded. Why did you say that? Why did they respond that way? Are you holding the fork okay? What are your facial expressions looking like?

Once that loop starts watch out because anything is fair game. You spend so much time concentrating on you that you shortchange the other person. And yourself for that matter.

You are human. There is no way to get it right all the time. Even if you could that's a serious burden to try to carry. So don't bother. Just know that what you have to offer this dating relationship is strong and valuable. Leave the rest at home.