The 9 Most Common Mistakes We Make when Choosing a Partner

This monologue podcast explores common pitfalls people make when choosing a long-term romantic partner. The speaker identifies eight key mistakes, including the fear of loneliness leading to settling for less, the sunk cost fallacy in maintaining failing relationships, and underestimating the cumulative effect of minor character flaws. The podcast emphasizes the importance of self-sufficiency, realistic expectations, and recognizing that even the best relationships involve compromise with an imperfect partner. For example, the speaker highlights the importance of recognizing the "relative inevitability of [a partner's] vexatiousness" to avoid unrealistic expectations. The podcast concludes by suggesting that contented marriages are built on a foundation of accepting the imperfections of both partners.