by The Remarkable Arielle, an Advisor on Keen*

Mistake 1: Leading Men to Think You are Needy and Insecure
Did you know that there are six ways you can set off a man's "Insecurity Alert" and make him think twice about pursuing a relationship with you?  Sadly, even confident women often accidentally give off one of these signs, and just one can kill the chance of a man asking you on a second date.

• Talking or saying nasty things about your past boyfriends. Saying bad things about men you have been involved with actually reflects negatively on you. It makes a man worry you are carrying around baggage that he will have to deal with should he become involved with you.
• Speaking negatively about other women. This just makes a man think you are trying to cover up your own insecurities, and looking for validation and attention.
• Too much physical contact, especially in public. If you are constantly hanging on a man or touching him too much, he'll start to see it as clingy behavior. It's far better to save your touches for short and infrequent moments that will surprise and enchant him.

Mistake 2: Appealing to His Sexual Side Instead of His Emotional Side
Many women make the mistake of thinking that men are primarily driven by sex alone and think if they can attract a man sexually, they will be able to attract him emotionally as well. Women too often give up sex to a man in the hopes that it will translate into a relationship. In reality, a man has the capacity to view a sexual connection and an emotional connection as two entirely different things, and it requires a special set of skills to mold these two things together in a man's mind and keep them connected.

Mistake 3: Not Knowing How to Size Up a Man's Relationship Potential
A lot of women will decide whether or not they should put energy into building a relationship with a man based on attraction. When we feel a strong sense of attraction for someone, it can cause us to override our logic and ignore our instincts, leading us to overlook a potential partner's deadly faults that could spell trouble down the road. If you've ever found yourself stuck in a relationship that is dragging you down, this is probably why.

It's important to be able to size a guy up and spot any warning signs of a future bad relationship fast, so you don't waste any of your time or emotional energy on someone who isn't right for you.

Have you ever been guilty of committing one of these mistakes? Learn how to captivate a man with your sharp wits and your kind heart so you can find, attract and keep the man you've always wanted.

*Excerpted from the blog of The Remarkable Arielle, an Advisor on Keen