- Know why you want to wait—be educated about chastity.
- Be bold and vocal about your decision—prepared for peer pressure.
- Find a friend and mentor to support you—be held accountable.
- Be selective about whom you date and your friends—find people who encourage you.
- Leave un-healthy relationships and find support to not return.
- Communicate openly about sex, respect and chastity early in a relationship.
- Set physical limits/boundaries with each person you date.
- Plan dates to avoid surprise situations where you might be uncomfortable.
- Avoid the use of drugs and alcohol—they decrease your ability to make good choices.
- Avoid movies, activities and music that are sexually oriented or explicit.
- Avoid long periods of time alone and the strong temptation to be sexually active.
- Never view pornography—which completely devalues sex & makes women into objects for pleasure only. This is very damaging to healthy sexuality.
- Think of your future spouse at tempting moments.
- Confess when you fail—either in small ways or big ways.
- Stay close to God—seek His help: PRAY (this most important)!
Men:
- Don’t fall for stereotypes—becoming a man is not connected with sex.
- Ignore guys who make fun of you.
- Encourage women to dress modestly—compliment a lady for her personality and when she’s in sweats, not just when she’s wearing something sexy.
- Use sexual energy in healthy ways—such as sports, hobbies, etc.
Women:
- Be prepared to answer stupid lines:
- If you love me you would do it—If you love me, you wouldn’t pressure or ask.
- Everybody else is doing it—Good, then it will be easy to find someone else.
- Don’t you love me—Yeah, that’s why I’m saying no. And, I love God and respect myself more.
- I won’t get you pregnant or give you a disease—Exactly, because I won’t have sex with you.
- I might marry you—Good, then we can enjoy this on our wedding night.
- If you don’t, I’ll move on—Nice knowing you, bye bye.
- Dress appropriately—live modestly, from the inside out. When we dress provocatively, it is very difficult for men to see us as whole people, instead of just a few body parts. We deserve complete respect—not to be looked at as an object or abused in a guy’s mind.