When someone is turning us down, they sometimes tell us we aren't their "type." What does this even mean? We all have our preferences when it comes to who we like. We have the ideal person in mind and when people more or less fit the list of criteria, we think they are our type. People usually have preferences that range from physical appearance to personality. However, we shouldn't limit ourselves to who we believe would be the ideal match for us. Our feelings aren't logical, so even if you have a very reasonable and logical "type," you might fall for someone who you never thought you would find compatible.

Here are some reasons why you should keep an open mind when finding the right significant other. Sometimes you find a gem where you're not looking.

1. People are dynamic.

It's unrealistic to decide whether or not someone is your type based on just a few set of facts. If you are attracted to tall guys who have brown hair, and you've decided that's your type, you might not look beyond those features. Let's look at personality traits that might be our type. You might get a first impression of someone and assume that person's personality would just not gel with yours. Well, first impressions can be wrong, and when deciding whether or not you might be compatible with someone, deciding on those impressions might not be the best idea. Of course, we all know we really have to get to know someone before we decide we want to date them, but we don't often know that our types subconsciously turn us away from people before we even give them a fair chance.

2. Opposites attract.

We've all heard this before. People who are different tend to be drawn to one another. There is a reason why this is such a cliché statement. This has been proven time and time again through couples who are very different in nature. Maybe your type might include people who are quite different from you, but it's also likely that your ideally constructed guy or girl shares similar interests as you and complements your personality by being a similar personality type. When you look beyond your type, you might find that the differences you find with one particular person is actually something that you find appealing.

I was motivated to write this article to prove to myself that being in a relationship with someone who's not your type or with someone who thinks your not their type could still work. And I think it could. There's nothing that binds us to our expectations of who should be Mr. or Ms. Right besides our own conscious beliefs. Like I said earlier, feelings are not logical, so it's quite possible to feel attracted to someone who is not quote on quote your type. It's also possible to be compatible with someone who is completely different from you. Another thing is that just because you have consistently liked a specific type of person doesn't mean you will only like that particular type for the rest of your life.

Don't limit yourself to just one type and keep an open mind. You never know, ring by Spring could still happen, and you may just be limiting yourself by sticking to your "type."