As we grow through phases of life, priorities change, as does what we feel ready to step into.

For some men, myself included, we want to have a variety of experiences in order to define the life we want to live.

These experiences bring us new perspectives and a level of maturity that allows us to show up the way we need to for a significant other — if that is part of the path we choose.

Here are 9 ways to know the guy you’re dating is mature enough to show up for you:

1. He’s living with the future in mind.

I have a tendency to…

I often find myself contemplating how I can improve in all areas of life.

How can I be a better boyfriend? A better son? A better brother? How can I be a better role model to my girlfriend’s daughters? How can I be a better friend? And most of all — how can I create an even deeper sense of pride in the man I have worked to become?

My belief has always been that, while we don’t often voice them publicly, many other men struggle with the same questions.

As our lives evolve over time, we are presented with…

If you want easy, simple, or convenient, then dating these days is perfect for you!

Some people may read this and immediately recoil at the idea of dating being ‘easy’ or ‘simple.’ They will rant about how things are so complicated now and how nobody wants any commitment and is just looking to hook up or chat forever and never meet.

Which is exactly my point.

It’s easy, it’s simple, it’s convenient — because it’s all on the surface.

These things are not trying, or challenging, or difficult. They do not require depth or substance or emotional commitment — they…

If you are being played, you will feel emotional confusion and exhaustion around your developing relationship to the point where you’ll wonder if it’s even worth the effort.

Let’s explore some red flags that the person you’re giving your time to doesn’t actually deserve it:

1: The relationship feels stagnant.

While there is no blueprint to a relationship, there are still steps forward that we all take that signify progress and increasing interest.

We spend more time together, we start sleeping over more often, we leave toothbrushes or clothes, we meet their friends or families, we exchange “I love you”s.

If someone is just playing…

You’ve seen by now that Simone Biles, the United States’ most prominent and talked about gymnast, has withdrawn from the 2021 Olympics, citing the need to focus on her mental health.

I don’t write or speak about sports and athletes, but I do write and speak about mindset, identity, and purpose.

And Simone Biles has just given a masterclass in what it looks like for internal strength to overcome external influences.

We live in a world where even the average person walking the streets feels a sense of pressure.

We feel pressure to look, dress, act, walk, or talk a…

Taking on the responsibility of dating a woman who has children is not for the faint of heart. Below, we’ll discuss some questions every man should ask himself before making this very real commitment.

1. Am I secure enough to take a back seat sometimes?

Every article you’ll ever read about dating a mom will tell you that her kids will always come first. Anyone who has any experience with children knows that they, themselves, are a full time job. Depending on the age(s) of your new love interest’s children, the “full-timeness” will obviously change.

The fact will always remain, though, that her kids will always be her biological, emotional, and…

This is a little different than the topics I usually write about, but I’ve had a lot of people tell me lately that they have been thinking of starting to write and just need to actually make the jump and do it.

For that reason, I wanted to provide a little bit of insight that I have picked up along my path as a blogpreneur. (Yes, I just made that up).

I started JamesMSama.com in 2013. …

We spend a lot of time talking about how to recognize a toxic person or a toxic relationship, but it’s also important to acknowledge what the right relationships look like, and how, when you’re in one, you can make it last.

Here are some ways you and your partner can stand the test of time.

1. You respect each other’s differences and use them to your advantage.

Not that I am much for sports analogies, but I think one would be fitting here. When you are on a team, not everyone is good at the same things. …