We've talked before about settling—and so, you probably know by now I think entertaining the idea of dating someone who's less than what you deserve is a no-good, guaranteed waste of your time and affection. And while I do believe superficial dating checklists do more harm than good, I also think we women should have a nonnegotiable list of must-haves for the men we let into our lives. Here are seven.

1. He's transparent. He doesn't make you guess at what he's thinking, wants, or needs. He's direct and honest, without being careless or hurtful. You never have to wonder at his true intentions because, through words or actions, he makes them known.

2. He's mature. Not a wet blanket but a man who's got his sh-t together. The kind who doesn't spend all his rent money on beer, who values and takes care of his belongings, who refers to your body parts by their biological names—unless you're in between the sheets, of course!— without giggling, and who can even keep a plant alive because he remembers to water it.

3. He's got a positive attitude. No one can feel happy all the time, but a guy who focuses on the best of life will elevate your own outlook rather than constantly bringing you down.

4. He shares your morals. Ideally, he shares your values too. But if you can't see eye-to-eye on religion or politics, you absolutely must have in common the moral of respect.

5. He trusts you. He can—and maybe even should!—experience a tinge of jealousy when you recall a girls' night out in which a handsome man asked for your number. However, the man you come home to must be able to let you leave the house, and live your life, trusting you wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt him.

6. He's willing to compromise. You can't have a happy relationship with a man who insists it's his way or the highway. A man's got to be willing to meet in the middle. For you, maybe that looks like a Saturday-night ballet date followed by a Sunday football-fest. Maybe it's how many bedrooms your first apartment together should have. Whatever it is, just make sure he's willing to budge and see your side.

7. He values you. He sees your worth and works to build you up, never to tear you down. He knows he's lucky to have you, and he makes sure to show it in little and big ways.

What are some other must-have qualities we should all look for in a man?