Long Distance Relationship Advice

June 13th, 2010

Maintaining a healthy long distance relationship can be a challenge.  It takes two mature people who are able to communicate in order to make it work.  It will also take some sound long distance relationship advice, and that’s where I come in.

In this article I’ve outlined some of the things that you can do to make your relationship not only survive, but thrive.  I’ve also compiled a few of the most common problems couples face and how to avoid falling into the same traps in your relationship.

One of the first things you and your partner need to do to ensure the continued strength of your relationship is to make sure you are both on the same page.  Make sure you agree on whether or not you have an exclusive relationship. If one partner thinks it’s ok to date while you are apart and the other one is staying monogamous, the relationship is doomed from the start.

For the most part, a couple won’t even contemplate a monogamous long distance relationship unless both parties feel the relationship has the potential to be  a long term one.  There is no sense making this type of commitment unless you both feel that the other person might be ‘the one’.

Another thing you and your partner need to do is make sure you have good communication skills.  When you are far away from each other for extended periods of time, and you can’t have physical contact, you will have to rely solely on your communication skills to continue to build your relationship.

That is why long distance relationships, when they last, are some of the best relationships around.  The couple has to learn to communicate effectively to make it work, and they don’t get distracted by all the physical attraction. They are able to connect on a deeper level which can often lead to a more fulfilling relationship.

If you are an insecure person, though most people won’t admit it if they are, you should avoid getting involved in a long distance relationship.  Being in this type of relationship requires a great amount of trust, typically people who are insecure see a threat everywhere, even where there isn’t one.

If you and your partner are overly suspicious, not only will your relationship be a constant battle, it will also be unlikely to work.  No good relationship can be based on suspicion and insecurities.

You and your partner also need to be careful of the temptation to have a ‘fling’ with someone while away from your partner.  Unless you both agree in advance that some extracurricular activity is ok (and if that’s the case why bother pursuing a long distance relationship in the first place) than you should stay faithful to your partner.

If you want to maintain your long distance relationship you have to know ahead of time that it will be a challenge and you and your partner both have to be committed to making it work, but if you follow my  long distance relationship advice you and your partner have a real shot of having a great, long term loving relationship.

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Effective Tips On How To Save My Marriage

June 13th, 2010

If your relationship between the two of you to the point of questioning how long you will be together, you may be asking how to save my marriage. Remember that a marriage is a union of two people, so finding solutions to your marriage problems together is essential. These problems cannot be solved by just one of you.

Here are some tips that can help bring you together and increase the chances of your marriage lasting:

- No marriage is perfect. Unlike fairy tales, typical marriages have their flaws just like each of us do. Do not expect perfection from each other. Accept that there will be lumps and bumps along the way.

- Marriage requires work. For your relationship to work, both of you need to realize that it takes work to make a marriage strong. The more work that you put into your marriage can result in an honest and happy relationship. If you do not take this seriously, it can be detrimental. The areas that typically need the most work involve trust and respect in one another . Without these things, your relationship will fall apart.

- Communicate and listen effectively. Create an environment where you can talk to each other without getting upset. Speak calmly and clearly about how you feel and allow your partner to do the same. Make sure to listen to what they have to say, regardless of what they say. Discuss how each of you feel and find common ground where both of you feel that you can find solutions for issues you are facing. The more open and honest you are with each other, the better.

- Do not dwell on past problems. Do not let past mistakes or misunderstandings determine the future of your marriage. While your past problems may be quite serious, dwelling on them will not help your marriage. Focus on the here and now and take each day as it comes.

- Be more giving to one another. Be considerate of each others needs and feelings. You can do caring gestures to simply show that you are thinking of them. If you are unsure as to what you should do for your spouse, ask them what you can do to make them happy. Doing something that will make them feel loved  and special can go a long way towards strengthening your relationship. Sometimes doing the simplest things can mean the most to them.

If you have tried all of the above and still are asking how to save my marriage, a professional marriage counselor may be your best option. The decision to go to a counselor must be made by both of you as it will not work if you both do not participate fully.

If you are both truly committed to making changes to save your marriage, a counselor can offer unbiased advice to help you. By getting advice from counselor, it may help you see your problems in a different light and help you find solutions.

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Tips To Get Exgirlfriend Back

June 13th, 2010

Regardless of whether your girlfriend broke up with you or if the decision to end your relationship was mutual, you may be feeling that the break-up was a mistake.  It isn’t unusual to regret breaking up with your girlfriend; nor is it unusual to want to get exgirlfriend back.  These feelings of wanting to rekindle a past relationship can occur shortly after a break-up or they may spring up several weeks or months afterwards.

If you want to get your ex back, you are going to want to try some of the following tips.  Because every break-up and every relationship is different, some of these may not apply to your situation; however, be sure to look all of the tips over thoroughly.  If you do not approach the idea of reuniting with your ex cautiously and with care, you may blow your chances of getting her back.

Try these tips as you work toward getting your exgirlfriend back:

• Admit your fault in the break-up, as well as anything you did wrong during the relationship.  Although even the most heartfelt apology is unlikely to get your ex to run back into your arms, it is a good first step.

• Be kind whenever you see her.  Speak nicely, even though you may be hurting and angry—you need to rise above those feelings and understand her needs at the moment.  This will show her that you still care about her.

• Be an excellent listener whenever she talks to you.  Let her express herself and do not interrupt.  Unless she asks for your opinion, do not tell her what she should do or how she should act.

• Think about what you did during the relationship that may have helped to lead up to the break-up.  Work on changing these habits.  For example, if you determine that your ex was likely troubled by your lack of career goals, perhaps you can visit a career counselor and find a job path in which you are interested.  Your ex will see that you are working on changing the habits she disliked–and this will make you attractive to her.

Just as there are suggestions of what you should try, there are also some things you should definitely not do as you try to get exgirlfriend back.  Avoid doing any of these:

• Do not appear needy or emotionally desperate when you see or speak with your ex.  This is not attractive at all.

• Do not follow the cues you see in the movies–sending flowers and serenading her at her workplace are sure to annoy her, not attract her.

• Do not go out with other women if you want to get your ex back.  This sends the message that you do not miss your ex and that you are over the past relationship.  And even if you are careful, your ex will find out that you have seen other women.

By following these tips, you should be able to work towards getting your exgirlfriend back.  Good luck!

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Before You And Your Boyfriend Get Back Together

June 13th, 2010

Are you considering getting back together with your ex boyfriend?  The idea probably seems quite exciting, especially if both of you are remembering all of the good times that you had together.  But you should definitely do some serious thinking before you and your boyfriend decide to get back together.

Many couples do successfully reunite and end up with very strong relationships after a break-up.  However, some couples end up getting back together for the wrong reasons or without fully dealing with the factors that led to the dissolution of the relationship.  If you want your rejuvenated relationship to be a success, make sure that you first take the time to consider the following issues:

• Old wounds need to be healed.

In other words, there was some reason why you and your boyfriend broke up in the first place; has this issue been resolved?  If not, it is likely that your relationship may fail again.  You and your boyfriend must find a way to either deal with the problems that led to the break-up or you must jointly decide that the break-up issues are no longer conflicts.  It isn’t enough to simply have regrets about the relationship and how it ended; things must change.

• Let go of old expectations.

If you and your boyfriend decide to give the relationship another try, you will need to learn to treat it as a new relationship–not as an extension of your old one.  This doesn’t mean that you need to completely start fresh; however, you do need to rebuild trust and friendship.  You will need to reassess your goals as a couple and work on creating a new life together.

• Don’t let emotions make decisions about reuniting or about the new relationship.

Of course it can feel quite thrilling to talk again with your ex, and you both may be feeling the euphoria of falling for each other once again.  Yet allowing those feelings to control whether you and your boyfriend get back together could be a mistake.  You both need to think rationally about how a new relationship would be–without letting the floods of emotion overcome you.  Similarly, when making decisions about the new relationship, it is best to do so calmly and with sensible and reasonable thought.  If either of you allow emotions to cloud your judgment, you may come to regret it later on.

If you really want to get back together with your boyfriend, make sure that you and he are both really ready for another try at the relationship.  By doing so, you could end up saving yourself a great deal of heartache if, for some reason, the relationship does not fare well again.

It may seem quite easy to believe that your boyfriend has changed because of your great desire to reignite the relationship; however, if it isn’t actually true you will just be setting yourself up for failure.  Instead, set yourself up for success by being honest with your boyfriend and making sure that the two of you do not follow the same path that led to your first break-up.

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Openness To Healing Relationships

June 10th, 2010

So many times people will find themselves in a relationship that used to be good, loving, and strong.  But somehow, somewhere, things changed.  Now they want to get that loving relationship back.  The first thing is making sure there is an openness to healing relationships.

Most relationships that have broken down have done so over a period of time and usually because of hurts, many of which have been small.  These hurts have accumulated over a period of time, though, and now they’ve taken on a life of their own. Over time we tend to shut ourselves off from our partner because we don’t want to be hurt anymore.  Once that happens you will need to make sure you can open up again and attempt to heal the relationship.   Before you decide that you are going to fix your broken relationship you have to make sure that you are willing to open yourself up to the possibility of more hurt.

And, it’s not just about you either.  Is your partner willing to open up and work on the relationship?  Many times one partner is more interested in salvaging the relationship than another.  If that’s the case and your partner has made it clear, either by what they’ve said or their overall attitude, that they have no interest in working very hard to save the relationship, you might as well call it quits. You can’t do it all yourself and you can’t force your partner to try.

If, on the other hand, you both agree that you will try to work on the relationship the first thing you’ll both need to do is look at yourselves.  You need to look at yourself and your partner needs to look at themselves. You are trying to honestly figure out what part you’ve played in the breakdown of the relationship and whether or not you will be committed to making the changes necessary to fix it.  Again, both of you have to admit their part in the break down of the relationship as well as be willing to try to change their behavior.

After all that the next thing you will both need to do is talk to each other.  This doesn’t mean yelling, intimidating, or getting mad.  It means and open, adult discussion about how you are feeling.  You each have to be able to honestly speak your mind and explain what you think has happened, how you think it can be fixed, what you are willing to do to help fix it, and how you are feeling overall.

This step is vitally important and potentially very dangerous.  This is the part where someone could get hurt feelings and that could lead to a big blowout.  In order for this to work, it’s crucial that you both give the other person time to talk, and not get mad or defensive about what they have to say.

If you are sure you and your partner really have an openness to healing relationships, and you’re wiling to work on the steps I’ve listed here than the two of you will have a real shot at getting back to a place in your relationship where you can be happy to be together, and happy to be ‘back to normal’.

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Healing Relationship Wounds

June 10th, 2010

If you are facing the difficult task of  healing relationship wounds you will need to be wiling to really invest some time and effort.  You can fix your relationship but it won’t necessarily be quick and easy, and you won’t be able to do it all on your own.

There are many steps you will need to take to repair your broken relationship.  A lot of what you will have to do will depend on what broke the relationship in the first place.  It’s usually not just one or two things and it usually takes a long time and a buildup of many smaller issues that eventually tear down your relationship.

Finding the cause of the break down is the first thing you will need to do in order to come up with a ‘game plan’ to fix it.  You wouldn’t expect your mechanic to fix your car without first knowing what was wrong with it, would you? The same principle applies to your relationship.

Not only will you need to figure out what went wrong you will need to honestly figure out what part you played in it.  That can be very hard for most people.  No one wants to admit they’ve been wrong or made mistakes.  But you can’t fix it until you know what is broken, so you will have to honestly, maybe brutally honestly, evaluate the way you’ve behaved in the relationship and what things you’ve done, or said, that might have contributed to the break down.

And yes, what you have said can play just a big a role in a broken relationship as what you’ve done.  Never forget that words can wound and those wounds are often the hardest ones to heal.

Once you’ve figured out the mistakes you’ve made you will need to determine if you’re wiling to invest the time needed to fix them.  If you can’t make a 100% commitment to changing your behavior than you might as well end the relationship right now.  There’s no point in dragging you and your partner through further pain.

Another thing you will need to honestly consider is whether or not your partner will be willing to work on the relationship too.  No matter how sincere you are and motivated to make changes, it will take both of you working together to get things back to a good place.  You can’t do it all alone, and neither can your partner.  If you aren’t both committed to making it work, it’s also time to move on.

Something else you will need to consider is that if you save your relationship it will never totally be ‘back the way it used to be’.  That doesn’t mean it can’t still be good, it can.  It just means that whatever the two of you have gone through has left some scars, those will always be there.

Keep these things in mind when you are  healing relationship wounds.  If your relationship is truly worth saving, and your partner is willing to meet you half way and work on it, you can fix the relationship and even make it better than it was before, it’ll just take some time…and lot’s of love.



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Advice On Sex To Repair Your Relationship

June 10th, 2010

Being in a bad relationship is a tough thing to do.  Nothing is worse than being married and lonely at the same time.  If you think the best way to save your relationship is to ‘spice up your sex life’ you may want to think again.  Here is some advice on sex to repair your relationship.

First of all don’t buy into the old cliche that if you have great sex your partner will be satisfied and not leave.  Unless your partner is an adolescent, or just acts like one, sex alone won’t be enough to keep your relationship strong.  A good adult relationship is made up of many components and until you can get it clicking on at least several levels, not just sexual, you will struggle and most likely won’t be happy in the relationship.

A word of caution though, no one is perfect and no relationship is perfect.  You will have times when you and your partner are not on the same page, and that’s ok.  It’s more about balance, in your relationship as a whole you should be on the same page more often than not. If it’s balanced the other way, where you are at odds more often than you are in sync you should seriously consider ending the relationship because the two of you just aren’t a good fit, and that’s unlikely to change.

So before you decide that hotter sex is the key to making your relationship what you really want it to be, consider some of these points:

1. How was your relationship in the beginning?  Did you have a lot of hobbies that you shared together?  What did you do, besides sex, when you spent time together?  If you don’t do those things together anymore, why not?   If you analyze these changes in your relationship you will be a lot closer to figuring out what you need to work on to make your relationship strong again.

2. Have you asked your partner what they think is going on with your relationship?  After all you’re both part of the situation, and the problem.  Why not share with each other what you are feeling, instead of complaining to your girlfriends, or buddies, why not ask your partner?  No one will know what they are thinking better than they do.

Make sure that when you ask your partner what they’re thinking you give them the opportunity to tell you how they feel in a ‘safe’ environment.  What I mean by that is don’t get mad and  yell at them if they say something you don’t want to hear.  If you do then you are sending them a signal that they can’t open up to you or it will get ugly, so they won’t turn to you. That is the beginning of the end for many relationships.

Once they’ve told you how they feel, it’s your turn.  And the same rules apply. You have the right to express your feelings without being persecuted by your partner.

If you and your partner have reached a rough patch in your relationship it can be tempting to think that if you can reignite a fire in bed you’ll be able to save your relationship, unfortunately that’s simply not the case.  Use the advice on sex to repair your relationship tips I’ve given you above to start to rebuild your relationship in a healthy way.



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The Smart Way To Ending A Relationship

June 10th, 2010

8:00 AM – Go To Work
9:15 AM – Office meeting
1:30 PM  – Sales presentation
6:00 PM – Break up with my significant other

Let’s face it, for most of us, that kind of schedule looks pretty funny. While we may not schedule a break up that way, there are times when something needs to be done, and somebody needs to make the first move. A lot of relationships last much longer than they probably should for no other reason than breaking up isn’t an easy thing to do.

Relationships typically end in a few basic ways. There is the dramatic break up. This type can be very sudden and usually involves strong words or actions. There is the mutual break up where both parties come to the realization that it’s over, and do so at the same time. It’s almost as if it happens by magic. It’s also the most rare. Finally, there is the slow break up. This is characterized by things degrading over time. The sad thing is that neither party may even know they are headed for a break up until it’s far too late.

So, how can you end a bad relationship without either party getting hurt?

The first step is to know why you want to break up. But don’t assume that the first reason you come up with is the real reason. You need to find the underlying cause of wanting to break up. Having a clear and accurate idea of why you’re breaking up will make the process go smoother for both parties. That’s because you will be operating from a position of honesty, and that’s key.

Set a time to discuss things that is convenient for both of you. If at all possible do this face-to-face. It’s really not the kind of thing that should be handled via e-mail or over the phone. The only exception s for long-distance relationships where you won’t be able to get together for a while. It’s better to end things quickly, than it is to delay the inevitable.

Keeping things positive when ending a relationship is a smart move. Just because you are ending a romance doesn’t mean you have to make an enemy. Be nice to each other and treat each other with respect. Don’t get defensive, and don’t make the other person defensive, either. If they start crying, be compassionate. At the same time, be aware that it may be an attempt to manipulate you. You can still be nice, but don’t let them make you do something you don’t really want to do.

Finally, at this stage, getting back together in the future is probably the last thing on your mind. However, it is always a possibility. By ending a relationship the right way, you will have a better chance of being together at a later time, should that be something you would like to do. Either way, breaking doesn’t have to be hard to do. Follow the tips above and you can both move on and be happy that you did.



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Saving A Relationship – 3 Tips For Doing So

June 10th, 2010

Whether you’ve recently broken up, or you’re afraid you’re on the brink of a breakup  you can take heart,  saving a relationship is possible.  You can reignite the flame that the two of you once shared.  It won’t necessarily be easy or fast, but if you’re committed to making it work there is hope.

I’ve compiled a list of some of the things you need to do to salvage and repair your relationship.  Keep these tips in mind when you are analyzing your relationship:

1.  Do you really want to stay in the relationship?  I know this may sound like a dumb question but sometimes when we think we want to keep our relationship what we really mean is that we’re afraid of having to find someone new, or starting over.  If you’re brutally honest with yourself you can determine if you really want to continue the relationship or if you’re just scared of being on your own.

Another part of this question is to determine if your partner really wants to work on the relationship too.  Even if you decide that your relationship is worth saving, that doesn’t mean your partner shares your conviction or will be willing to invest the time and effort to work on your problems.

2.  Honestly evaluate what went wrong in your relationship. Again, this will need to be done by both of you.  This can be the hardest part, it’s always easier to blame someone else for the problems but it’s tougher to own up to your part in the break down of your relationship.

Before you can repair it you need to know not only what is broken but why it broke.  The two of you may even want to visit a couples counselor to help you objectively work through this phase.  Sometimes having an objective third party in the room can help you both stay calm and face things you may not have been willing or able to face on  your own.

3. Try to remember what drew you to each other in the first place.  If you’ve been in a relationship for a while you obviously loved and enjoyed each other.  So often in a relationship what happens is that the ‘stronger’ one (or the most selfish one) controls the relationship. They become the one who tends to take more than they give.  The other partner will take on the role of the giver.  Over time the ‘taker’ will get bored because the fun loving person they fell in love with has become a doormat and the ‘giver’ will get sick of not getting their needs met often enough.

If your relationship has fallen into this trap you both need to take a step back and remember what attracted you to each other.  This might be a good time to not only remember but to tell the other person.  Remind them why you fell in love with them, and vice a versa.

Saving a relationship will take time, work, and commitment by both parties, but it can be done.  If you think your relationship is worth saving and your partner thinks so too, than by all means, follow the tips above and you can salvage your relationship.

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Do I Want My Husband Back

June 10th, 2010

If you ask yourself, “Do I want my husband back?” and the answer is yes, then you’re one of millions of women who have been through a break up and decided that they didn’t want to go through with it after all. Maybe you didn’t want it from the start, or maybe you did and now you’ve changed your mind. “Do I want my husband back?” is one of those questions that make you consider a great many things.

A lot of it has to do with isolation and loneliness. That’s not to say that you only think about taking your husband back because you’re lonely. Not true. But the loneliness that often comes after a breakup or a divorce can be quite a shot for anyone. “Do I want my husband back?” often arises out of the uncomfortable shock of finally being alone.

You should never take your husband back because of fear or boredom. A common fear is the fear of being alone and having face life’s difficulties alone. But the fear of being alone isn’t a good enough reason to decide you want to get back together with your husband.

If you stay together out of fear, the relationship can’t possibly grow naturally. Doesn’t he deserve to be with someone who genuinely wants to be with him? Not someone who stays because she believes there is no choice and they have to stay together.

You both deserve a better and more fulfilling relationship that one of obligation like that. Two people should be together because they want to be together, not for any other reasons.

So if you ask, ‘Do I want my husband back?” and the answer is yes, you really do, not just because you feel it’s expected that you be married, then you should try to get him. There are a few different ways you can head for this goal.

Be the woman you were when you got married. Of course, it’s impossible to go back in time completely. But all you have to do is essentially be the same person in some of your more pleasant actions.

When you first got together there was something about you that attracted him. Whether it was that you were sweet, thoughtful or attentive depends on the person’s perception.

Maybe over the last several years of the marriage, you haven’t been nearly as attentive as you could be. You should at least be happy that he would never have noticed the drop in affection, if you hadn’t been so good at lavishing it on him in the first place. But once he’s had that great attention, it becomes obvious when it’s gone.

And it’s easy for it to disappear after a while. We have a terrible tendency to take the people we love for granted all the time.  Often that’s one of the factors leading up to a break up or divorce. If you ask yourself, “Do I want my husband back?” and you do, make an effort to not take him for granted anymore.

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