These days, with a greater lean than ever before towards Eastern philosophy in the Western world, there's a strong emphasis on living in the moment. Living in the moment helps us clear our heads of the pointless what "could have" or "should have" beens, and keeps us focussed on making the best of our present situations. But what role does the past have in making our lives better today? Should it all just be forgotten? One constructive use of the past is to help us not repeat the same negative patterns in our dating and relationship experiences. After a relationship… more

In the always-interesting world of dating, there's nothing much worse than misreading signals from potential dating interests. Universally, no one likes rejection, yet we always hear that life is about taking risks and chances, and not being afraid to go after what you want. When we don't know someone however, it can be difficult to gauge how they feel about us because we have no background on how they typically relate to others. Luckily, there are some universal flirting signs that most of us use, so if we're paying attention, it's possible to piece together how they feel about us.… more

So you've been out of your last relationship for awhile. You're finally getting to be in a good place; you've started (or have starting thinking about) dating again, and you've gained perspective and are proud of all the emotional growth you've accomplished. But then something unexpected happens completely throwing you off - you find out your ex has moved on. Whether they're in a new relationship, engaged or have even started a family, finding out your ex has moved on from you can be both shocking and upsetting. So when we're confronted with such a big emotional surprise, what's normal?… more

Being single's not always the easiest phase we go through. Reminders of how much "better" it is to be in a relationship are everywhere, whether it be on the street, in the media or even from our own families. We can be prone to thinking life will be incomplete until we have someone to share it with, or that having a partner will solve any negativity in our lives. It's no wonder then, through the loneliness, pressure and self-doubt, that we can alter our standards. We can find ourselves in a relationship that's not only subpar, but can even be… more

Ahh Dating. Exhilarating, nerve-wracking, exciting and fun! First dates, second dates and third dates - each one has its own surprise in store for us by virtue of our individual personalities and situations. Some of us date casually, making an informed decision as to whether we should enter into something more permanent, while some of us jump in head first to see where life takes us. One thing we all have in common while dating though, is that first kiss. Just thinking about it can cause us butterflies, and for good reason. Kissing is usually the first level of physical… more

Dating in the early stages can be a highly charged situation. When we're getting to know someone, especially on the first date, we often have to fill in the blanks about what to do, what's appropriate, and what the other person's reactions are going to be. While spontaneity is a wonderful, even magical thing, first dates may not be the best place to try out our wilder sides. We want to assure the other person we're normal, kind, and respectful, planting those first seeds of trust in order to move onto the next level. And sometimes, we don't want to… more

Life has an uncanny way of showing us what we need, regardless of whether we're paying attention or not. From an early age, we learn patterns of behaviour by trial and error, by our personal perceptions of our unique situation, and by watching and imitating the adults in our lives. We don't always have the greatest role models or circumstances to show us what's really healthy for us individually, and thus bad habits can be formed. We end up repeating the same mistakes, not being satisfied with the outcome, while not even realizing the extent to which we can create… more

The first couple of dates we have with someone are usually the ones where we decide whether or not to pursue something more serious. Chances are, you know if you're attracted to someone physically within the first few seconds of meeting them, but after that it's important to get a sense of what's in their heart and mind so you can make a rational choice as to whether you'd like to spend more time with them or not. Asking the right questions isn't always the easiest thing to do during a first date though - when we're nervous our thought… more

Being shy isn't the end of the world, but it certainly doesn't make life any easier. Usually tied to low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence, situations which can seem quite "normal" for the average person, like going on a job interview or speaking in front of people, can seem daunting, even terrifying to the shy person.
Dating is no exception. The risk of rejection in this social setting sets the stakes even higher, and the anxiety attached to rejection can even cause a shy person to opt out of the whole dating experience altogether. But living in fear is… more

The mind is a powerful thing. By just thinking, dreaming, and imagining, we can begin to shape our worlds into anything we desire. Similarly, even when we feel like we have little control over what happens to us, we're often subconsciously pulling things into our lives. And by focusing on our fears and perpetuating negative thought patterns, the outcome tends to be exactly that. So what does this mean when it comes to our relationships, and what are some of the subconscious thought patterns that might be negatively affecting them? The good news is, once we acknowledge what we're doing,… more