These rules AREN’T meant to be broken. — Having “rules” is a concept that makes many of us shudder in the context of an intimate relationship. Aren’t rules supposed to be for more…rigid matters? Rules take the fun, enjoyment, and romance out of things — and they also begin to feel a little…controlling. Here’s the thing, though: Rules…

Compatibility is key. — You’ve met someone new, congratulations! Or, you’re starting to put yourself out there again, congratulations! Or, you’re starting to develop feelings for someone you’ve been seeing, congratulations! No matter what phase of a relationship you’re in, one of the most overlooked things I believe we’re missing these days is a…

Only date someone who’s ready to receive you. — Being “emotionally available” should be #1 on the list of every single person’s desires in a romantic partner, no matter who you are or what you’re looking for. If this sounds like a big statement — that’s the entire point. Emotional availability is what opens someone up (or not) to…

Not everyone who wants you deserves you. — We live in weird times. Dating lingo like ghosting, love bombing, hardballing, and whatever-ing are being thrown around. We meet people by swiping our finger across an electronic handheld device. We can talk to multiple people all at once without ever using our voice or leaving the couch. No wonder…

What do you see when you look in the mirror? — Here’s a weird question: Do you get uncomfortable looking yourself in the eyes? At first, this might seem like a silly thought, almost nonsensical, but if you ponder it for a bit… Many people feel uncomfortable looking at their own reflection for longer than a few seconds. Sure, you want…

The men who hold themselves to higher standards. — Imagine this: You put a group of 15 men into a room. They all own large businesses and are all from the south. Alabama, to be exact. Then, you bring in a city slicker type who tells them they’re going to spend the next 3 hours talking about their personal lives, feelings…

10 ways to avoid the “friend recession.” — It’s not a secret that it’s more difficult to make friends as an adult, and post-pandemic, things seemed to become even more dire. We did intentionally avoid each other for more than a year, after all. This was a challenge for adults long before Covid times, though. There are some…

It doesn’t happen by accident. — Words like “skills” or “strategies” or “methods” aren’t usually ones that we associate with something emotional and romantic like love, but the truth is that love isn’t just something we fall into, it’s something that we build alongside of another person. Together. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the…

Never sacrifice your values for a relationship. — “I would do anything for them!” you proclaim, as a valiant statement of unconditional and undying love. In the moment, feeling proud of your dedication and commitment to a person, a union, a feeling that brings you joy and connection… The missing asterisk, though, is “within reason,” or “until it…