8 Ways to Protect Yourself in Early Dating If You Love Deeply

October 13, 2026•1 min read

By Corey Boutwell

Love deeply, set the pace

If you love deeply, the early stages can run away with you. These are the habits I teach to keep a clean pace.

When you feel yourself chasing, stop. No double texting, explaining or convincing. Get busy with your life.
When the urge hits to over give, slow down. Give gradually and where there is real reciprocity.
When ‘this is easy’ arrives too fast, pause. Enjoy it, but go step by step.
When the moment goes dry, read it as information. Slow replies and short answers are a quiet no.
When you want to go deeper, look for the green light: her leaning in, asking you questions. If it is not there, bring it back to fun.
When you feel tight chest and obsession, ask: is this mine or is this theirs? Then decide from truth, not panic.
When you start dropping your mission for her, catch it. Keep your business, training and friendships.
When she cannot match your fun, do not force it. Do not become a false version of you to keep her.

I do not trust those big early feelings yet. They are wonderful, and I let them settle before I act on them.

Corey Boutwell