Is This Going Somewhere?

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Early dating can be a fog of excitement, anxiety, and second-guessing — especially if you mask or struggle to read situations. This is a quiet check-in with yourself, away from the other person, about what you actually want and notice.

What I'm looking for

Not a wishlist of traits — the way you want to feel and be treated.

In a relationship, I want to feel…

______________________________________________

My genuine deal-breakers

______________________________________________

Green flags

What tells you this might be good? Notice evidence, not just chemistry.

Often green

I can be more myself / mask less around them
They respect a no without sulking
Plans are clear; I'm not left guessing
Effort goes both ways
I feel calmer, not more anxious, over time

Green flags I've actually noticed

______________________________________________

Red / yellow flags

Things that have given me pause

______________________________________________

My pace

The pace that feels right to me

Rate from 0 (Slow & steady) to 10 (Fast & all-in): ____

One thing I want to say or ask for, sooner rather than later

______________________________________________

Trust the quiet read: Excitement and anxiety can feel the same in the body. How you feel in the calm hours — not just on a date — tells you a lot.

Go deeper

Ready for more? These lessons pick up where this worksheet leaves off.

Neurodiverse Relationships, from The Neurodivergent Brain. Neurodiverse relationships: the double empathy problem, four couple patterns, and what helps.
Love and Intimacy, from The Autistic Woman. Dating, relationships, and sex as an autistic woman: confusing scripts, masking, consent as a gift, and sensory-aware intimacy.
Communication Across Neurotypes, from The Neurodivergent Brain. Why autistic and non-autistic people misunderstand each other: the double empathy problem, direct vs indirect styles, and cross-neurotype repair.

NEW PATH FAMILY