Tired of Online Dating? Here’s a New Way to Connect

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Tired of Online Dating? Here’s a New Way to Connect

Posted January 31, 2017 by Sean M

February is “relationship” month at Inside8, so my first post is to help people move past the trials of online dating and find a better way to connect.

How Online Dating Works
Most dating sites use a variation of these matching techniques:

Identify your own preferences based on criteria provided by the dating site and search for compatible profiles;
Join a dating community of people who share your cultural background; or
Answer algorithm-based questions that match people based on their characteristics and traits.

All of these approaches are effective in their own ways. They must be, since a growing number of people are using dating websites.

But what if you could go a step further and relate to potential partners on a deeper, emotional level? Instead of preferences, characteristics and traits, what if you could relate based on shared values and motivations?

Why Values and Motivations?
Have you ever met someone and felt as if you’ve known him or her your entire life? Chances are you share important values and motivations.

Motivations drive our behavior and decision-making. Intrinsic motivations represent our deep, personal values and beliefs. Satisfying intrinsic motivations meets our deepest needs. That’s why a connection based on shared motivations can be very powerful.

Inside8 Identifies Motivational Connections
Inside8 could have been a dating website, but we wanted to be bigger. Our goal is to help people connect in all types of relationships—as couples, friends, social groups, work colleagues and others.

In terms of your dating life, the application is pretty simple. Take a 22-question online test and find out which of the eight Inside8 groups you belong to. First, you’ll find out more about yourself—your motivations and behaviors. Also, the test will provide insight into fun activities that people like you frequently enjoy. Then, go to the bottom of the report and see how you relate to others.

Here’s an example of how people in two of our groups—Primal Originators^® and Primal Nourishers^®—relate:

Relationships_L2

Here’s some of what this means if you’re an Originator/Nourisher couple:

You’re caring people. Friendships and relationships are important to both of you. As a couple, you have the potential to do the hard work of building a relationship.
You could be great together, or drive each other nuts. It depends on what you do with the information. For example, Originators tend to be planners and Nourishers tend to act. You could interpret these as “shortcomings” because the other person isn’t like you. Or, you could be a powerful duo. You’re both explorers. The Originator can plan the next adventure and the Nourisher can bring the energy that makes it really fun.
You probably want to give each other space. Originators value personal freedom and Nourishers enjoy self-care. There are plenty of healthy, productive things for you to do when you’re apart—but you still share that overall sense of caring and commitment.

Of course, discovering and aligning motivations is just a first step in exploring a relationship. People choose how they’ll act on the insight—and that’s pivotal to whether there’s a chance at a relationship.

Looking for something different to do on your next date? Take the test. Compare results. Start a meaningful conversation. Post your experiences on our Forum or social media pages (FB, Twitter & Instagram: @theinside8). We’d love to hear your story.