News Flash: Don't Treat Your Guy like a Fixer Upper

Dating is hard, and this is a tried and true fact of life. No one wants to settle, nor should you have to. But there's nothing wrong with being a little more accepting and broadening the restrictions you've set on what defines the "guy of your dreams." When you meet someone new, if your first impulse is to make a list of things you would change about them, maybe it's time to move on. 'Cause the reality is, you can't treat a boyfriend like a home renovation project -- there's only so much change a person is willing to submit to.

Yes, it's okay to persuade your partner to tune in to your favorite TV show so that he can understand what you're talking about during your late night phone calls. And if they won't stop listening to a playlist of pure dubstep, we suggest you do try to introduce them to some new genres (for the sake of your own sanity). But trying to convince your significant other that their friends aren't good enough, they should move into a different neighborhood or their job is just not cutting it is bound to be a relationship-ender.

Want proof? Think about the failed relationships both in and out of the media. Kim Kardashian probably saw Kris Humphries as a McMansion with palatial potential. And look how that turned out.

What do you think? Is it possible to change or improve the person you're dating without ruining your relationship? Or do you need to accept who they are and either love it or leave it?

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