The advertising industry has a lot to answer for I reckon. Just take a good look at the next ad you happen across. See the happy, healthy people, well off, well dressed, sexy and without a care in the world. Now compare them to yourself. Feeling inadequate yet? Good. Now go off and buy the product being advertised.

Feeling better? No? Well there's probably another product you can buy in the endless grind to have the perfect life. But when you get bored and tired with this pointless routine you can just stop and relax, safe in the knowledge that you are already perfect.

That's rightperfect. Sure there may be a few areas of your life that could be improved, a few tweaks here and there. But never lose sight of the fact that you are a unique and special individual. Take time to cultivate this attitude and to identify any negative beliefs and question them to see if they are based in reality.

In the dating game so many of us think we have to project an idealised "perfect" version of ourselves. This is a major error. For starters you will be entering into a relationship under false pretences. You will waste a lot of energy trying to cover up what you perceive to be your undesirable qualities and your facade is bound to crack eventually.

The only way to be in a relationship, is to be yourself. A strong sense of self is very attractive. Most people don't like playing games or wading through bullshit to find the true you. The quietly confident are perceived to be intriguing, even sexy. Just have some faith in yourself and you can't go wrong.

So learn to love yourself, warts and all, and you will bring a lot more love into your life. Oh, and try to ignore advertising as much as possible.