If your relationship has ended, you might be nervous about dipping
your feet in the dating pool. Or you might worry that you’ll never find
love again. Maybe you’ve even assumed that you’re just unlucky when it
comes to love.Relationship and family therapist Terri Orbuch,
Ph.D, often hears people say they’ve lost hope. But she wants
individuals to know that it’s absolutely possible to find a fulfilling
partnership. For instance, in her 25-year study of 373 married couples,
Orbuch found that 71 percent of divorced singles found love again.
She
believes in working from the inside out. Before pursuing a new
relationship, Orbuch stresses the importance of working on your own
beliefs, emotions, behaviors and sense of self. She helps readers do
just that in Finding Love Again, along with offering tips on everything
from first dates to building a strong relationship.
Below, Orbuch discussed her six steps for seeking and finding a great relationship.
1. Adjust your expectations.
“Forget
everything you know about relationships,” Orbuch said. That’s because
you might be holding onto certain relationship myths and unrealistic
expectations, which can set you up for failure and frustration, she
said. (Frustration also can eat away at your happiness, according to
Orbuch.)
For instance, it’s unrealistic to think that your partner
will automatically know what you want and need — even after many years
of marriage, Orbuch said. In the beginning, people simply don’t know
each other that well, while over the years, people naturally change, and
so do their wants and needs. (Remember that no one is a mind reader. If
you want or need something, Orbuch said, you have to ask for it.)
Another
common myth is that there’s a specific amount of time you have to wait
before you start dating. However, according to Orbuch, there’s no
scientific evidence to substantiate a certain timeframe. “Everyone is
different.” Some people are ready to date right after a relationship
ends, while others need more time to heal, she said.
2. Start with a clean slate.
In
her study, Orbuch found that divorced singles who didn’t feel anything
for their ex were more likely to find love. “In order to find love
again, you need to emotionally separate or detach from previous or past
relationships,” she said.
Remaining emotionally attached to the
past prevents you from being fully present — and trusting someone else —
and keeps you trapped in a cycle of negativity, she said. Everyone has
emotional baggage. The key is to make sure that your baggage isn’t too
heavy, she said.
For instance, in the book, Orbuch includes a
helpful quiz with questions such as: Do you still keep photos of your
ex, compare others to them or visit their social media sites?
According
to Orbuch, one way to become emotionally neutral is to release your
emotions in healthy ways, such as engaging in physical activities and
social events; volunteering; writing an honest letter to your ex (that
you never send); and getting creative with activities such as painting,
gardening and playing music. What also helps is to share your story with
loved ones and seek their support, she said.
3. Shake up your routine.
Orbuch
suggested making one small and simple change and committing to it for
21 days. In her study, she found that divorced singles who cut their
work hours by at least one hour a day were more likely to find love.
Changing your routine can open up new opportunities to meet people and
even revise how you see yourself, according to Orbuch.
4. Discover the real you.
After
your relationship ends, “you need to step back and re-examine you,”
Orbuch said. Before you can determine if you’re compatible with someone,
you need to know who you really are, she said.
Your past
relationship probably shaped your personality and preferences in some
way. You no doubt compromised, changed and accepted certain traits, she
said.
As Orbuch writes in her book, “Singles who find a
long-lasting, successful partnership have one trait in common: they put
the focus on who they are and what they want, rather than worrying about
what others will think.”
To find out who you are, define your key
life values. What matters most to you? For instance, how important is
faith, your job or your health?
Orbuch also suggested making a
list of the qualities you’d like in your partner — and to be specific.
For instance, as she writes in the book, by “funny,” do you mean you’d
like your partner to have a dry sense of humor or tell jokes or
something else entirely? Getting specific helps you reflect and consider
the true qualities you’d like in a mate — and not waste your time, she
writes.
5. Start dating.
Again, it’s important to be hopeful. The divorced singles in Orbuch’s study who were hopeful were much more likely to find love.
In
the beginning of your relationship, you want to “disclose or share
parts of yourself gradually,” Orbuch said. Don’t spill your guts right
away. This might seem obvious, but many people do just that: They reveal
everything immediately because they assume that if their date
or partner doesn’t like what they hear, then it’s “Too bad,” and they’re
on to the next person, she said.
But a lot of information is
overwhelming for anyone, especially when it’s about topics like your ex,
kids and finances, she said.
Don’t try to sell yourself, either,
Orbuch said. Dating isn’t about winning someone’s approval; it’s about
about finding out if you’re compatible.
6. Determine if you’re in the right relationship, and keep it strong.
When
evaluating your relationship, Orbuch suggests considering the
following: Do you think in terms of “we” or “I”? Do you trust each
other? Do you share similar values? Do you handle conflict effectively?
To
keep your relationship strong, “empty your pet peeves pail frequently,”
she said. Small annoyances add up — and can damage your relationship —
so talk to your partner about what bothers you.
Also, “make sure
that you recognize and affirm each other frequently over time,” she
said. It’s all too easy to put your relationship on the back burner when
other people and tasks require your immediate attention, such as your
kids, parents, jobs, health and finances, she said. But just a sweet
phrase or small behavior can go a long way.
