Break Up Advice from BrokenHeartedGirl.com

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Friday, November 30, 2007

Is Your Husband Cheating?

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

When you're deciding whether or not to break up with someone, you need to consider all the facts. Sometimes if you believe someone is cheating on you, that's enough reason to break up. Here are some signs that you can look for to see if he's cheating on you. Of course, you can always ask him too!

5 Surprising Symptoms of Infidelity Posted Thu, Nov 29, 2007, 9:41 am PST - from www.yahoo.com


Everybody thinks they can spot a cheater a mile away. Adulterers, after all, have the same characteristics, right? Wandering eyes, secret cell phones, last name Sheen. If only it were that easy.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where people fall out of their fidelity flight patterns and take off on their own different courses all the time, even though we desperately want to believe that our partners won't be unfaithful. That's why it's important to know some of the traits and sneaky signals that are common in people who tend to be unfaithful in the relationships.

Now, I'm not suggesting you automatically end your relationship if your partner falls into one of these categories, but I do think that these are some signs you should be aware of - so you can be on the lookout for warnings of wandering.

Cheating Sign #1: He Doesn't Pay His Bills On Time

Some research shows that unreliability and carelessness is part of a personality trait called "low consciousness," which is a marker for infidelity. Makes sense. A guy who's careless about his own responsibilities is going to be just as careless about his relationships.

Cheating Sign #2: He's A Do-Gooder

What? Your guy contributes to the local orchestra fund, the church, and the alumni association, plus he volunteers to build houses for the homeless. How could a guy like that give into the temptation of midnight motel rooms?

A study just published in the November issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology found that when there's a blurry line between right and wrong (as there often is with matters of infidelity), the people who become the worst cheaters are actually the ones who think of themselves as having the highest moral standards.

Why? The speculation is that these people can justify their wrongdoings with explanations that they weren't doing anything wrong at all. Simply put, not following the Monogamy Rules (a faithfully popular Men's Health story) makes it hard for the Do-Gooder to live in his skin.

Cheating Sign #3: He's Rolling In The Dough

A study in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy found that those people who earned more money were more likely to cheat than those who earned less. It's not because they have more income to open new credit cards, carry more cash, or spend more coin on mistress gifts. Some researchers theorize that those with lower salaries - and thus those who are more dependent on others in a relationship - are less likely to risk ruining the relationship.

Cheating Sign #4: He's A Yeller

While yelling and anger may not seem to be all that connected to cheating, a recent Australian study found that unfaithful partners show many of the same personality characteristics as abusive ones. Those who are more likely to be abusive (verbally or physically) are simply more likely to be unfaithful. What's already bad has the potential of getting even worse.

Cheating Sign #5: He's A Mirror Hog

Some research has shown that the single biggest trait of cheaters is-surprise, surprise-narcissism. These self-loving folks are so wrapped up in their own self-importance that they don't even consider the effect that cheating has on the other person. So what if I stray and have the occasional one-nightstand? I deserve to be happy. Have you seen these guns, baby!

And, yes, this works both ways, as Men's Health explained in "6 Signs She's Ready to Stray." Perhaps all of this might leave the guys wishing they had read "The 50 Things She Wishes You Knew About Her."

Feel better!

-MJ




Digg!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

You're Not a Loser.

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,


I have a friend who is beautiful, smart and sassy. She’s a great girl and an even better friend, but she can be a downer at times. She is always telling me that she’s a “loser” and that she will never find a man and she’ll never get a good job. This is a girl who has 2 college degrees, can get any man she wants just by looking at him (she is VERY beautiful) and smart enough to find a better job. I speculate that she’s just not motivated to ‘go for it’ because she thinks very little of herself.

And I find it very hard to deal with. At times, I just don’t want to be around her – especially when something really good happens to me and she can’t be happy for me. I try to help her, but at times, it’s frustrating.

I feel that if she were a more positive person, she would attract a good man (that also has a positive attitude), the confidence to find a better job and the belief that she IS a great person, not a loser.

Do you have a friend like this? Are you as frustrated as I am when it comes to getting the person to realize their greatness?

Even worse - are you like this? Read the signs below to see if you’re a ‘twisted thinker.’


According to David Burns, MD, these are signs of “Twisted Thinking”

1. All-or-nothing thinking (a.k.a. my brain and the Vatican's): You look at things in absolute, black-and-white categories.

2. Overgeneralization (also a favorite): You view a negative event as a never-ending pattern of defeat.

3. Mental filter: You dwell on the negatives and ignore the positives.

4. Discounting the positives: You insist that your accomplishments or positive qualities don't count (my college diploma was stroke of luck...really, it was).

5. Jumping to conclusions (loves alcoholic families): You conclude things are bad without any definite evidence. These include mind-reading (assuming that people are reacting negatively to you) and fortune-telling (predicting that things will turn out badly).

6. Magnification or minimization: You blow things way out of proportion or you shrink their importance.

7. Emotional reasoning: You reason from how you feel: "I feel like an idiot, so I must be one."

8. "Should" statements (every other word for me): You criticize yourself or other people with "shoulds," "shouldn'ts," "musts," "oughts," and "have-tos."

9. Labeling: Instead of saying, "I made a mistake," you tell yourself, "I'm a jerk" or "I'm a loser."

10. Blame: You blame yourself for something you weren't entirely responsible for, or you blame other people and overlook ways that you contributed to a problem.


If you are a negative thinker, try to find the ways to turn the situation into something positive. Here’s something that happened to me:

I strained the ligaments in my ankle in June. I was on crutches for 2 months and had to walk with a brace for 3 months. I’ve just gotten to a point where I can walk in 1” heels. Well, do you know what happened the other day? I strained the ligaments in my shoulder – so now I have to go back to the doctor all over again. Do you know what I really think about this? I think that everything happens for a reason. I don’t get down on myself. I don’t whine about it. And I think that perhaps this is an opportunity to meet new people, to learn something or to just plain value the fact that nothing worse happened.

Hey, maybe I’ll meet my new doctor and fall in love. : )

I haven't always thought this way. It was my father who taught me how to think positively. I kept going through hard times. Trial after trial for 3 years straight and he kept telling me that things could always be worse - then he would cite specific examples of our friends & family members that WERE worse off. And that helped me gain perspective. Then finally, something absolutely great happened in my career - and all of those hurdles I faced just seemed like building blocks to get me where I am today. My dad tells me that there is a reason for everything and I wholly believe him. Although one may not realize the reason at the time, it will be revealed to you eventually. (for me, it took 3 years!).


Now back to you:

When you’re going through relationship after relationship, or you’re getting divorced, or maybe just going through a traumatic event in general, it’s EASY to be a negative thinker. And it’s okay to be down-in-the-dumps for awhile. But try to remember the ten signs of ‘twisted thinking’ above so you can recognize when you’re doing it and try to change your behavior. Don’t turn into my friend (who finally has turned to therapy). Try to think positively. Remember that you’re NOT a loser, or an idiot, or prone to be miserable for the rest of your life. Sometimes things just happen. Including heart break.

Remember that you're great, you're smart & you're beautiful.

Maybe that positive thinking will lead to even bigger and better things.

Feel better!
-MJ

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Use Affirmations to Increase Self Esteem

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,


The BreakUp Workbook speaks about affirmations and how they can help you get through depression caused by a break up or another traumatic event which leaves you feeling less than stellar. It's important to do everything you can to dig yourself out of your funk and get back to some kind of normalcy. Here are some examples of affirmations that you can repeat every day. Make sure to read them out loud. Focus on their meaning. And most critically, BELIEVE them.


"I am a good person."
"I am doing my best."
"I will be calm today, not anxious."
"I deserve better than this. I deserve respect."
"I am strong."
"I will make time to relax today."
"My friends and family support me and care about me."

Feel better!


-MJ

Monday, November 26, 2007

Release Emotional Toxins

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,


When you're feeling as if your emotions have taken a hold of your entire life, you need to find a way to release them. Exercise, journaling, therapy, etc., are all great ways of release.

Here, Deepak Chopra outlines his advice for releasing emotional toxins. Check it out!

http://health.yahoo.com/mentalhealth-videos/deepak-chopra-on-releasing-emotional-toxins/lime--DCEMOTOX.html;_ylt=Av7O8Z249CJqF_6piW97CEbqZYt4


Feel better!

MJ

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Dating a Divorcee

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,


I found another defunct advice column today! I had to post this on the blog because the man refers to the divorcee as having "baggage." I always find this phrase to have a negative connotation, because "baggage" means that you have someone weighing you down. Being divorced with children can be very uplifting if you're happy.

Anyhow, I like the way these women answered the question. Maybe you can apply it to your dating life.

Just don't use the word "baggage." yech.

Feel better!

-MJ




by Rosie Einhorn, L.C.S.W. and Sherry Zimmerman, Esq.

Dear Rosie & Sherry,

I'm dating a woman who's divorced, and I'm concerned about the baggage, and particularly the reasons why her marriage failed.

When dating someone who has been divorced, at what point is it okay to ask the question, "What was the reason the marriage was terminated?"

Steven

Dear Steven,

Timing can make or break a courtship, so the question you asked is very important. Prematurely asking a date about personal information will probably make them feel uncomfortable and could put the brakes on an otherwise promising relationship. We suggest that questions about the details of a date's prior marriage wait until you have gone out several times and have both started to talk about other personal matters.

Some of our readers may shy away from dating someone who has been divorced, because they worry that the same problems that contributed to the end of the first marriage might affect a subsequent marriage. This narrow perspective closes one off from a large population with great potential. Marriages break up for many reasons, and often it isn't due to the "fault" of any one partner. Many divorces could have been averted if a couple had learned early on to continually nurture their relationship and develop skills in areas such as communication and conflict resolution. Many men and women learn from the mistakes of their first marriage and are able to have a much more successful relationship the second time around.

Of course, there are individuals whose emotional handicaps or other problems made their first marriage extremely difficult. Don't expect this to come to light when your date explains why the first marriage failed. Few people can be objective about their own divorces, and you're most likely to receive an explanation that is your date's particular perception of the truth, peppered with some imaginative details.

However, as you get to know your date better, you can put her explanation into better perspective. After a couple has dated for many weeks, varies what they do when they are together, sees each other in the presence of each other's friends and relatives, and observes how each other reacts when they are tired or under mild stress, they gain a more well-balanced understanding of each other's positive and negative qualities. If a date is challenged by personality traits that may make it difficult or impossible for them to have a stable, happy marriage, these will usually (but not always) become apparent once the couple becomes very comfortable in each other's presence.

Our best advice at this point is to give a promising courtship the time it needs for the two of you to learn a great deal about each other and develop an emotional closeness. Trust in yourself to be able to put everything in perspective as time goes on.

Dating With Children

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,


I ran across this website today while doing research about the issues related to dating when one has children. This is an old advice column from about.com which, sadly, is no longer functioning.

Here are some comments from women AND men that speak to how they go about dating... with children. Maybe there's some nugget of wisdom in these comments that will help you on your journey toward dating again.

Feel better!

-MJ



Single Parents:
Dating ... with Children

While the jury's still out on the effects of divorce on children, many single parents are still out...with their new dates.* (Some with their kids in tow; some with their kids...attached.) How do you balance your kids' needs with your grownup needs? I asked, and you Do Told. Briefly, some highlights, representing both consensus and diversity of opinion and experience:

Susan: "Being a single mom offers an instant weed-out mechanism. If -- and only if -- a guy can deal with my hectic schedule, my erratic unavailability, and that my kids are a priority, then he may be a keeper."

Zola: "I limit my choices to men who have at least one of the following attributes: (1) child/ren of an age similar to mine, who seem to be compatible with mine, and/or (2) he has a friend(s) with children, with whom he has bonded, and appears to like kids, and/or (3) he likes me very much, accepts me for what I am, has only constructive comments, and is open-minded about all people. Also, he has siblings who celebrate family events or, if he is an only child, he's outgoing and has a circle of 'adopted' family friends."

Sara: "I'm a full-time college student and a single mom to a sweet preschooler. My approach to dating: I don't. It's so hard to balance everything as it is. Until I finish my law degree it's no dating for me. I have seen many mommies sacrifice their lives for a guy. I want to enjoy this time with my son while he's little. Men come and go, but my boy's only going to be this young once."

Ellen: "Online dating was perfect -- I could do it at night when my daughter was asleep. I screened heavily, and met a fantastic guy."

Erica: "The best dating advice I could give to a single parent is: don't sell yourself short, and don't settle for someone who is less than you deserve because you think no one worth dating will want to date you. Yes, dating someone with a child can be difficult and comes with its own set of hurdles, but I'm living proof that you can find someone who understands those problems and will want to work with you to make the relationship a good one."

Jennifer: "Build the relationship to a solid one first -- so much the better to handle the difficulties that come with including the children."

Terri: "I think the person you're interested in should know up front. Some people can accept, some can't, and it's better to find out as soon as possible."

Tom: "Pick a day of the week that will be a regular date day. Do not involve the kids at first -- maybe don't have the person pick you up at the door. Better yet, date on days that the kids are visiting the other parent, if possible. Don't have sex in the house with the kids at home. Don't have the other person have breakfast with the kids. Imagine a kid going through the separation process with eight different 'significant others,' one for each year of grammar school, including losing or being separated from the other parent. It may sound harsh, but remember that your first responsibility is to raise the kids."

Virginia: "I never have a sleepover when my girls (5 and 8) are home, and I don't introduce them too early. I am also very honest with them about what went wrong if it ends. I think I have a unique opportunity to show them 'how to date' and set a good example."

5 Ways to Get Over Your Ex

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,




This is my first attempt at a video blog. I created this video that outlines 5 ways to get over your ex. Although this blog is not wholly inclusive of every bit of advice I would give, it does give you a starting point.


From Crackle: Oct 30 2007 - VID00001


Feel better!

MJ

Friday, November 23, 2007

Searching for a Therapist?

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

If you're seeking a therapist, but do not know where to start, here are some steps you can take to begin your search responsible:


-Ask your family practice physician for a referrral. Who knows you better than your doctor?

-Speak with a trusted family member or friend about their experience with therapists. Is there one in particular that they can recommend based on their experience?

-Check online. There are many sites out there that can help you begin your search. Find a therapist near you by using this link:

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/waterfrontmedia/prof_search.php


Feel better!

MJ

Strengthen Your Social Circles

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

During the holidays, it's easy to feel vulnerable and alone when you are without a significant other. Instead of waiting for your friends to call, why not call them? Or better yet - make new friends!

Expanding your social network is a great way to keep busy AND a great way to do something good for others. Here are some ideas from emotionalhealth.com:


Explore some of the many volunteer opportunities available, from wielding tools to spruce up affordable housing to mentoring a child or business-person. Check with http://www.volunteermatch.org or http://www.seniorcorps.org or call your local chapter of the United Way for opportunities that fit your talents and interests.

Harness the warmer side of technology. E-mail and telephones extend your reach around the world. Libraries and senior centers may offer free online time and may even help you set up a free e-mail account.

Find like-minded people through intriguing classes, organizations, and your community newspaper.

If it’s hard to get to religious services, ask fellow congregants to escort you. If a significant illness keeps you away, find out if your spiritual leader makes home visits.

Social support is a two-way street. Offer assistance to friends, family, and neighbors and accept it when it’s offered to you.
Share a confidence. Doing so can turn a friendly relationship into an even deeper one.

If depression, low self-esteem, or social phobias affect your ability to make connections, seek help. Start by talking with your doctor. Many people have been aided by therapy, medications, or both.

If you normally wait for others to reach out, pick up the phone and propose a date.

Feel better!

-MJ

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Insurance And Divorce

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

When you go through a divorce, there are many legal issues, propert issues and custody issues to consider. There may be so much, in fact, that you don't think about transferring your health insurance from your ex-spouse's policy. While he can maintain health insurance for the children under his policy, you are required to change your policy immediately. You can get COBRA (definition in article below), or get insurance through your employer (in some cases, this may not take place immediately), or you can go through a noted insurance company like AETNA or Blue Cross Blue Shield. Either way, your health is very important, especially during this traumatic time, so be sure to get your new insurance card quickly.

Here's an article written by a law firm about transferring your insurance. I hope you find it helpful. This article strictly refers to California's health policy. Use the internet or contact your lawyer to find out the policy's in your State.

Feel better!

-MJ




Maintaining Health Insurance After Divorce


By Law Offices of Michele Sacks Lowenstein

Published: October 25, 2006
Your health is the most important asset you have, and health insurance coverage is a close second. If your health insurance is through your spouse’s employer, once the divorce is final you will need to obtain health insurance for yourself. It is very important that there is no gap in coverage, so you must deal with the issue early in divorce negotiations.


Divorce and COBRA – It’s a federal law, not a snake

While your spouse may be required by the court to keep the health insurance for the children, he or she will be unable to maintain the health insurance for you after the divorce.

If your spouse works for a company that employs 20 or more people, then you are eligible to apply for continued health insurance coverage in his employer’s plan under a federal law known as “COBRA” (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act).


The 60-day rule - Notification upon divorce

Your spouse’s employer is required to provide COBRA coverage for you, but only if you notify the health plan administrator within 60 days of becoming divorced. If you don’t give the administrator proper notice, then you will not be eligible for COBRA coverage.


Following divorce, employer-provided coverage may be cheaper

You may not want to be covered under COBRA if you can obtain health insurance through your employer. This is because your spouse’s employer is probably paying for all or a portion of your current health insurance premium.

Under COBRA, you will be responsible for the entire amount of the premium. (Actually, you may be charged 102% of the cost of the group rate.)

If your employer provides health insurance at little or no charge to you, then you are better off obtaining health insurance through your employer. But, for people who do not have this option, COBRA may be the only viable choice.

Before you opt for COBRA coverage, check out other private plans, such as Blue Cross, to compare the benefits and the costs. You may find options that are less expensive and more permanent than the COBRA coverage.

One way to find a list of these private insurers is to ask the personnel at your doctors’ offices what insurance plans they accept, and which ones make payments that are the most hassle-free.


COBRA coverage ends in 36 months

COBRA coverage for a former spouse ends within 36 months. So, you need to be prepared for this coverage to end and secure new health insurance to take its place.

If you have questions about the impact of preexisting conditions on obtaining new health insurance once the COBRA coverage expires, you should contact someone who is knowledgeable about the different kinds of health insurance plans available in your area.

If you are healthy, consider a private plan rather than taking the COBRA coverage for three years. If you take COBRA coverage and become ill during the three-year period, you might find that you are uninsurable at the end of three years when the COBRA coverage expires. A private plan, rather than a group plan under COBRA, would facilitate continuing coverage and might be worth any extra expense.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Keeping Up With Appearances Over the Holidays

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

It's the holiday season. I'd gather since you're reading this blog that you're spending it without a significant other. While you're feeling sappy and sad, you also have to retain an exterior of normalcy around your family. How do you do it?

1) Remember that the holidays are not about your ex-boyfriend/husband. It's about giving thanks for what you DO have.

2) Remember that your children are relying on you to set the tone for the holidays. If you're sad and blue, it will take the joy out of their season.

3) Remember that you are NOT alone. You do have people that love you and care about you.

While you may cry about your ex during the holidays and remain angry about the situation, you do have a duty to keep up appearances around your children. Create joy for your chilren and revel in their happiness. Remember that the world is bigger than you and that your children will take your traditions and carry them into their adult lives. Your strength will translate into their lives. That's a legacy that they can continue in the years to come.

Feel better!

-MJ

Monday, November 19, 2007

Strategies for De-Stressing. Writing It Out

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

We talk a lot about writing and how it can heal heal your soul. Here's an article from emotionalhealth.com that speak to journal exercises and how they assist in aiding dire situations. So, if writing can help a person who has had direct exposure to acts of terrorism or war, then you know that it can help you work through your feelings of despair. Break Ups are not the end of the world, but man, they certainly do hurt a lot.

Feel better!

MJ


Strategies for De-Stressing

Writing It Out



Clinicians at the Mind/Body Medical Institute have found that the following journal exercise helps relieve ongoing sources of stress. A single attempt is not enough, though. When you first sit down to write about a problem, you may feel more anxious. The wound, once exposed, may initially hurt more than it did while hidden. But continuing to write about the same problem over the course of several days often enables you to work through difficult emotions and reach resolution or acceptance.

Here’s some advice before you begin:
Deeply troubling events and situations, such as domestic violence, rape, or direct exposure to acts of terrorism or war, are best explored with an experienced therapist. For other situations, you can proceed on your own and seek professional help only if you feel you need assistance.

If you’re physically healthy, choose the most stressful event or problem you currently face. It’s usually one that you frequently dwell upon. Or, if you think your current problems stem from past circumstance, write about traumatic events in your past.

Truly let go. Write down what you feel and why you feel that way.

Write for yourself, not others. Don’t worry about grammar or sentence structure. If you run out of things to say in the time allotted, feel free to repeat yourself.

Do this exercise for 15–20 minutes a day for three to four days or as long as a week if you feel writing continues to be helpful.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Should You Give Him a 2nd Chance?

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

If you're like me, then you're kind, sweet and forgiving. Sometimes when I am hurt in a relationship, I will give the man (or a friend or even a family member) the benefit of the doubt. I will forgive the person who hurt me and try to mend the relationship.

So that's great and it makes me a better person and all that...but 5 times out of 10, the person will do the same thing to me again. And I wonder if I'm a sucker for letting that person back in my life.

Should I let go and move on? Or should I try yet again, knowing that this person may not change? So after living and learning a little bit, I've used these criteria when choosing to forgive someone yet a 3rd time:

1) How badly did the situation hurt me?
2) What actions (if any) can I take in the future to avoid this situation?
3) Ask a friend or family member for their take on the situation. (Maybe I'm blowing it out of proportion. Maybe I'm justified).
4) Would my life be easier without this person in it?

Then I take all of the answers to those questions and decide. Sometimes life is easier when you cut ties with certain toxic individuals. But remember, you can always forgive someone without continuing a relationship in the future. Being bitter is never fun. And forgiveness is divine!

Feel better!

-MJ
www.brokenheartedgirl.com

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

25 Ways to Avoid an Ambivalent Man

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

When you're moving on from a divorce, you are going to meet all types of men. There's the player, the serial dater and sometimes the ambivalent man.

Avoid another broken heart by avoiding this man.


Here are Rhonda Findling's 25 ways to avoid an Ambivalent Man:



Ambivalent Man- 1. one who exhibits or feels ambivalence toward women. 2. one who plays games. He wants a relationship; he wants to break up. He’s confused, mixed up, inconsistent, and unpredictable. Yet he’s irresistible and easy to fall in love with… and almost sure to cause a broken heart.



Sometimes they’re difficult to detect so here are 20 signs you are dealing with an Ambivalent Man:



Sign 1: You feel jerked around by him

Sign 2: He takes a long time to get back to you if you leave him a message

Sign 3: He’s super seductive

Sign 4: He’s unreliable

Sign 5: He pulls the disappearing act

Sign 6: He’s completely unpredictable

Sign 7: He’s self-absorbed

Sign 8: He wants instant gratification

Sign 9: He’s a mystery man

Sign 10: He won’t take responsibility for his own behavior

Sign 11: He’s married or dating other women

Sign 12: He talks constantly about his ex

Sign 13: He plays games from the start

Sign 14: What he says and what he does are completely different

Sign 15: You get the distancing lecture immediately

Sign 16: He’s had no or few relationships with women

Sign 17: He goes to endless singles events

Sign 18: He flirts but never asks you out

Sign 19: He doesn’t give you his home phone number

Sign 20: His life is chaotic

This list is an excerpt from my book “The Commitment Cure: What to Do When You Fall for an Ambivalent Man”.

My 5 new signs that have not been included in “The Commitment Cure” are

He mostly texts you instead of calling you
He says “we” on occasion (when he’s not referring to you and him) making you wonder who “we” is
When he’s back again after disappearing he claims he asked you out or called you, when in reality he never did (gaslighting)
He depends on you to make the next move or initiate
He starts out excited to be connecting with you, then loses quickly interest

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Relationship Deja Vu

Dear Broken Hearted Girl,

When you begin dating again after a break up, it's easy to fall into the same dating rut with a new person. This could be true because the individual you're dating is a mirror image of your ex. He may mirror your ex in looks and/or actions.

Be careful Broken Hearted Girl. If things start going down a path that you're very familiar with (the same path you went down with your ex), use your head and not your heart. Here are some things you can do to beat relationship deja vu.

Pay attention to your friends' and family's reactions to your new beau. If they advise you that he may not be good for you, don't be afraid to be analytical about it. As I usually advise in this situation, write in your journal - even if it's just a pro/con list. Love is blind, but you don't have to be. Your friends and family can be a great resource as "relationship barometers." They only want the best for you, so try to listen and keep an open mind.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself. Are you causing the problems in your new relationship? If so, what kind of work do you have to do in order to change your actions. Do you need to concentrate on yourself more? Does your entire world center around him? Do you smother him with emails and text messages? Think about how you can work through your own problems to make your relationship a better one.

Talk to him. If he's creating issues in your relationship, tell him. Try to keep an open mind and listen to him if he does open up. If he's having trouble opening up or addressing the issues, you may want to reconsider dating him. Communication is key in a relationship. If he can't communicate openly and honestly, then there may be nothing but trouble in your future.

Feel better!

-MJ