Having an end goal in mind can you more anxiety. For instance, if you want a commitment from your new partner, the tendency is to create a timeline for the relationship. When this happens, your focus is more about getting a commitment than enjoying the moment and seeing if your partner is the right one for you. "A confident person knows that if the relationship doesn’t work out, then it simply wasn’t meant to be more than it was," Trescott says. "You can embody this confidence by embracing the mantra that whatever will be, will be and that whatever’s meant for you can’t escape you."

One strategy you can use to stay confident is using the rule of three. "If you get feedback from your partner that's got you unsettled (e.g. they didn't return a call quickly, they didn't like a post you geared toward them, etc.) remember that on the first negative instance it might not mean anything," Heather Z. Lyons, PhD, couples counselor and owner of the Baltimore Therapy Group, tells Bustle. On the second instance, tell yourself that it might just be a coincidence. Finally on the third occurrence, it's OK to check in and say something. This is a good strategy to use early on because it gives you a chance to see what kind of patterns your partner has. It's a lot better for you and your relationship than immediately jumping to conclusions.

The early days of a relationship are supposed to be fun. So enjoy spending time with your partner. Now you have a partner to explore and have fun adventures with, so take advantage of that. "Do things together that you both like," relationship expert and spiritual counselor Davida Rappaport, tells Bustle. "The more fun things you do together, the easier it will be for you relax and not worry needlessly." Basically, if you're having fun, you can stay in the moment, and you're less likely to stress about the future.

If you look at your partner as a friend, in addition to potentially being "The One," you'll have different expectations of them and your relationship. For instance, most people tend to forgive their friends when they do or say things that make them angry. They automatically assume that a friendship is over because of one small thing. "If your partner’s heart is in the right place, you will know it," Rappaport says. "Take the time to get to know their good qualities and bad ones, too. We readily forgive our friends but not our partners." So try establishing a good friendship with your new partner first. When you have a solid foundation of friendship, your relationship is more likely to last.

"Far too often we become so focused on making sure that we're likeable enough that we end up completely overlooking red flags and other signs that this might not be a relationship worth our time and energy," Jenna Palumbo, licensed clinical professional counselor who specializes in helping young people grow confidence, tells Bustle. There's also a tendency to overthink the little things and worry about your partner's interest. But you have just as much input into whether you two end up together or not. So as Palumbo says, "Remember that you have power here, too."

Since you have the power to decide who you want to spend your life with, there's no need to feel like you have to oversell yourself. "Talking a big talk in order to captivate your partner, only sets you up for disappointment because not even you can compete with a larger than life version of yourself," Trescott says. If you want the relationship to evolve into something more serious, it's important to be honest with your partner about where you’re at in life and where you’re looking to go.

"Early on, we get too hooked in needing a new partner’s validation in order to feel like we matter and are worthy," Christine Scott-Hudson, family and marriage therapist and owner of Create Your Life Studio, tells Bustle. "But you have to remember that your worth is independent upon whether or not the new partner values you, or not." If you really want to stay confident, keep reminding yourself how amazing you are. According to Scott-Hudson, the most powerful affirmation you can use is the phrase, "I love myself." A person who truly loves themselves won't fall apart if the person they started dating doesn't see their value and behaves poorly. "In the beginning, say it even if you don’t believe it," she says. "Soon you will come to embody it and truly believe it."

A new relationship can make anyone anxious. It's not always easy to keep it cool, especially when it comes to love. But having confidence really comes down to having the right mindset. These small things can help you remain confident as you navigate the early days of your relationship.