Category: Relationships

Why falling in love is overrated

I used to think falling in love was all about that overwhelming feeling of passion and joy where Mr. Right would sweep me off my feet and we’d live happily ever after. He’s the guy that would light up my life, the man I would find true companionship with and who’d bring me the peace I was searching for. Thankfully however, I realised how flawed that vision was.

Hollywood makes us believe that romance should be intense; it’s all about the butterflies, the drama, the heightened emotions and finding ‘the one’ who you’ll marry and spend the rest of your life with. Until they come along, life is just ‘meh.’ Many of us are on a constant search to find a relationship which will fill the voids we have and where we can finally be ourselves with someone. Why must we wait until that ‘special’ relationship comes along? Why can’t we feel the compassion and joy we think that relationship will give us now? Is our own self-love and the love from our friends and family not enough? Why do we put our emotions on hold, waiting for that moment of attraction towards someone where there’s a sudden rush? We have confused lust with love, passion with intimacy, and infatuation with connection.

The idyllic notions of romance and the fiery feeling of passion used to be what I was searching for when dating yet those relationships were fleeting and insubstantial. Now I’m not saying romance is dead or ingenuine, romance is a beautiful expression of love yet it is often used as a tool to validate a relationship wherein many feel the need to show off the displays of romance they receive as if there’s something to prove. Instagram pictures of a bouquet of roses with captions that practically brag, “My man buys me roses, omg he loves me so much, I’ve done so well!” have become the gauge of true love as opposed to the warm feeling of content it provides. Since when does a romantic relationship need to be paraded in order to make it true?

“Thinking that there is some special person out there who is going to save us is a barrier to true love.” – Marianne Williamson, ‘A Return To Love’

We all crave love and attention however instead of giving those qualities to ourselves, we seek it externally. That rush of emotion which we think is love acts as a stimulant which fools us into thinking the intense feelings are something special when in fact they are feelings of attachment caused by our separation from our own Self.

Real love evolves naturally, is nurtured consistently, and takes time. The best, healthiest romantic relationships are between two people who not only complete themselves but have come together because they love each other, not because they need each other to make up for a lack of self-love. Love is free and so there are no rules or regulations which have to be followed in order to feel loved, instead there’s an understanding and deep care for one another where two lovers are also two best friends. Therefore since both people are the best versions of themselves, they naturally bring out the best in the each other.

“A relationship is not meant to be the joining at the hip of two emotional invalids. The purpose of a relationship is not for two incomplete people to become one, but rather, for two complete people to join together for the greater glory of God.” – Marianne Williamson, ‘A Return To Love’

The right relationship is something you embrace and nurture every day, and if that relationship is right, it will go on, and on, and on, until before you know it it’s been 5 years since you’ve been together, then 10 years and so on.

“When love is true and real, it feels warm and sweet in your soul the way oatmeal feel warms and nourishing in your belly. It just feels good. It’s not over-the-top, heart-stopping romance — the stuff Hollywood is made of. It just works. It’s nice. It’s solid.” – Sheryl Paul, ‘Love is a Bowl of Oatmeal’

The pressure of the relationship lasting for the rest of your life is another notion that needs to be let go of as this harbours attachment and fear. Change is inevitable and while I believe it is possible to spend the whole of your life in a wonderful relationship with one person, I also believe that by holding onto that idea you can prevent the relationship from becoming whatever it needs to be. Sometimes relationships aren’t meant to last forever however that relationship ending does not mean it was a waste of time or that there’s no room for love again! As long as you’re alive and there are plenty of wonderful people on this planet, you never need to feel a lack of love.

In conclusion, I have learned and realised that a romantic relationship isn’t something you search for, grab and try to keep. It’s something you open yourself up to, allow to graciously unfold, and embrace without attachment or fear of what might or might not happen.

“When you like a flower, you just pluck it. But when you love a flower, you water it daily.” – Buddha

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Image credit:
Mira Bozhko

Relationship lessons I’ve learned in 2016

This year has been one of major transformation as I have been on a journey with my inner self and uncovered many beliefs on romantic relationships which have been holding me back from love. I’m used to being single and have never been one to rush into a relationship but there was a yearning inside which I didn’t want to admit I had and that was to be in a loving, fulfilling, romantic relationship.

It all started in Spring this year when I was dating a friend of mine and things didn’t evolve into the committed relationship I was hoping for. I was left feeling hurt and with questions such as,

  • “If I’m so perfect, why am I still single?”
  • “If he really likes me, why are those feelings not enough for him to want to be with me?”
  • “Why does everything feel so right yet two-three months later the guy doesn’t want to commit?”
  • “I was so caring and understanding, what more does a guy want from a girl?”

The transition from dating into being in a relationship just never seemed to happen for me and it was an ongoing pattern. This time I decided to go within and figure out what was wrong. Not because I felt I wasn’t good enough, but because I knew that there must be some unhealed wounds which I needed to confront and work through in order to stop the same situation from manifesting into my life again.

I had always heard and read quotes such as, “You won’t find love unless you love yourself first” and so this was the time I had to finally learn what that meant. I started reading and listening to Wayne Dyer, Marni Battista, Marie Forleo, and Katherine Woodward Thomas. From those authors I learned many things which I will share.

Firstly, I finally admitted that my biggest fear was rejection which was painful to admit for an alpha female, such as myself. I assumed that because I’m such a catch and I know what I want in a man that I couldn’t fail at attracting the right relationship; there was lesson number two which was that my fear of rejection came from believing that rejection = failure.

I was sure that I loved myself but after listening to Wayne Dyer’s “Your Erroneous Zones” I realised that I had been rejecting myself all along. This was in the form of self criticism which many of us do without even realising. I assumed that my inner dialogue with myself was fine. I thought that saying, “I’m beautiful” to myself and liking what I saw in the mirror meant that I loved myself. However that love was so conditional; I only felt good enough when I looked good enough. If my hair wasn’t blonde enough or my abs didn’t stand out, I needed to correct those things first and then I’d love me.

I started reading, “Calling in “The One”: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life” by Katherine Woodward Thomas and from that book I have gained so much knowledge and understanding on how and why I’ve been holding back on love. As a single female, everything in my life would feel fine but as soon as a man made me feel special and listened to, I would latch onto that. Unbeknown to myself at the time, that reaction was because I was craving love and had voids I was trying to fill. Voids such as feeling appreciated, valued and cared for. I wanted someone to give me their time yet I always had doubts that the man had other priorities other than myself. Fair enough I always said I’d put my career first and so I expected that off the man, but that was the mistake I was making; I was undervaluing myself and didn’t believe that I deserved to be a priority enough for him to make time for me.

Those doubts came from my childhood wherein I never felt like a priority to my parents. Their jobs were the priority and so that’s how I grew up to be so independent and spent a lot of time with myself. I have no hard feelings towards my parents or my childhood, I absolutely love the woman I’ve become and I know that everything unfolds as it’s meant to however that realisation allowed me to then decide that,

  • It’s OK to want to be a priority.
  • It’s OK to ask for someone’s time. If they can’t give it to you, they’re either not interested enough or not the right person for you.
  • I’m going to make more time for myself so that I can learn to enjoy solitude.

Delving back into my childhood allowed me to unearth beliefs I had towards men which I didn’t realise were holding me back from falling in love. I’m not a man-hater as I love and respect the men in my life but the old beliefs I had which prevented me from entering a romantic relationship were,

  • “I dont need a man, I’m independent and can do everything by myself.”
  • “Men haven’t helped me to achieve what I have nor have they had a significant contribution to the success in my life. I’ve had to do everything myself and so I don’t need anyone.”
  • “As a young girl, the men in my life were cold and emotionless therefore I will never let my guard down and I must show them that they have no emotional power over me.”
  • “I am a strong female who is ambitious – being in a relationship may hinder me achieving my full potential and so possibly serve as a distraction.”

The lack of trust and emotional openness in those beliefs contradict the trust and emotional connection needed in a romantic relationship. Now that I was aware of why I would never let a man in, I had the ability to transcend that attitude into a more loving and trusting one.

The journey I’ve been on this year has been an eye opener which has resulted in a huge increase of self-love, self-worth and fulfilment. I am now unafraid to communicate what I want and know I deserve in a romantic relationship. I also feel no lack within, so when the next guy comes along I will be able to enjoy the relationship for whatever it is without the cloud of fear or doubt getting in the way. To conclude this post, I will share the key learnings I’ve made along with the new perspectives I’ve chosen,

  • Relationships are about being authentic, not perfect – I was obsessed with being the perfect girl in order to avoid rejection however perfection is boring. Being authentic means you love yourself regardless of what others think or feel towards you.
  • I am enough – I thought I loved myself but boy was I undervaluing myself as I tried so hard to be ‘perfect’.
  • Being perfect or ‘the nice girl’ won’t get you the person you want – You need to know who you are and always make yourself the priority. Not in a selfish way but in a way where the other person loves you and wants you for yourself, not who you think you should be.
  • I didn’t know it but I was hungry for love because I wasn’t giving it to myself (even though I thought I was through vanity) – I wanted commitment but rushed into passionate dating which then never progressed.
  • Stop accepting crumbs when you want the whole cake – This is something I learned from “Dating With Dignity” by Marni Battista. Declare what you want and be unapologetic about it. If they can’t give it to you, move on and let someone who will come along!
  • When you’re truly in love with yourself, it doesn’t matter if others love you or hate you – You become indifferent to others’ reactions and feelings towards you as they hold no status in defining you or how you feel about yourself.
  • Life is now! – This is something I learned from “Make Every Man Want You” by Marie Forleo. Stop waiting for the right person to show up or for next month’s holiday to feel good. Feel good now as life is full of opportunities and happy moments which will make themselves apparent when you choose to step into your happy place and feel peace.
  • Romance and passion every day is possible but sometimes they need to take a backseat – Relying on those feelings to determine who you fall in love with and when aren’t the best tools to predict how successful a relationship will be.
  • Friendship is key – This is first and foremost important as it’s through friendship that the building blocks of a strong relationship such as mutual trust and respect are found.
  • We all want our romantic relationships to last our lifetime but that can hinder taking risks – Entering a relationship can be risky since you’ll be devoting a lot of your time and feelings to that person…and after that it may not even last! However the obsession of finding ‘the right one’ or fear of falling for ‘the wrong one’ prevents us from taking risks and enjoying the beauty of whatever will manifest. Release the need to be right as life is and always be ever-changing.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with me, I hope you found this post insightful and helpful. Lots of love…

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Image credit:
Jamez Picard

Perfectionism is fear of failure… 

Feeling loved and enjoying life comes from being authentic, not perfect. That’s the lesson I’ve learned this Summer.

Having had experienced another failed romance (romantic relationships just don’t seem to fully bloom into commitments for me),  I thought, “OK there’s clearly some inner work I need to do in order to dig deep and find out why I’m repeating the same experiences in my romantic relationships.”

Now I hate to admit that I have any fears or weaknesses but this time I finally faced up to the fact that my biggest fear is rejection. While I’m a confident, independent and happy woman, the belief I held was that rejection equals failure which equals ‘not good enough’.

So in order to prevent rejection, I adopted high standards which were actually perfectionism. Attaining perfection is tiresome as the idea of ‘perfect’ is an illusion, it’s subjective, and forever elusive.

I realised that I was so fixated on being “the perfect girl” in order to avoid rejection because I believed that if I ticked all of the boxes, I could never be rejected. Yet I wasn’t getting the full love and acceptance I desired in romance.

That was because I had been rejecting myself all along without even realising it. The high standards I had placed on myself were conditions; conditions I had to fulfill in order to feel good enough. This included everyday thoughts which would go unnoticed such as,  “I’ll feel 100% good about myself once I’ve had my hair done” or,  “Next week I’ll feel better once I’ve cut out the junk food.” No, the time to feel good and love yourself unconditionally is now.

I now understand how important authenticity and unconditional self approval is. Without them, we will unknowingly seek approval outside of ourselves and latch onto it once someone gives us the acceptance we’ve denied ourselves. This happens without realising as the lack of fulfilment and connectedness is masked with egoic ‘high standards’.

However when we unconditionally love and accept ourselves, other people’s opinions, whether positive or negative, become unnecessary.

Let go of the fear of failure and the need to be perfect. Instead, embrace yourself and be fearless about putting yourself and your happiness first! 

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The beauty of hindsight regarding a breakup

In a few days it’s going to be a year since my ex and I split up. This year of being single has been amazing. However, the first few months were agonizing and hard as I had to rebuild my self love from the pain of the breakup and emotional turmoil. I had become insecure and found it very easy to fall into the trap of self pity and blame. Such feelings are common given the circumstances and I never wanted to fall in love again. I also felt as if I had forgotten how to be single and being alone with my thoughts was unpleasant. I now look back and am grateful for the experience. My ex was my first proper boyfriend, my first love and he set the standard for every guy thereafter. The men I attract now are so much better than the boys I’d attract before that relationship. I am also a lot more aware of my self worth and do not feel I need attention or a male figure in my life constantly in order to feel good about myself.

I’ve never been one to rely on a male companion to feel fulfilled or happy however we all enjoy receiving attention and it’s fun having that someone to flirt and talk to. Being in love and the feeling of fresh romance is exhilarating and I can look back at the moments I first fell in love and feel the raw, intense joy it brings. That is how I know I have fully overcome the pain from that breakup and feel no bitterness towards my ex. I have reached a place of understanding and compassion. I see and understand that every relationship and romantic encounter is a lesson to us; they allow us to collect data on what we really want and need in a man. These “mistakes” allow progression and so when approached from a detached perspective, the breakups do not being pain, they bring us an opportunity to upgrade from the relationship we thought was best for us. I needed to make that mistake of falling in love and being attached in order to be able to look at myself later and realise where I had gone wrong in order to prevent that happening again. Being in love for the first time can be very confusing and overwhelming  The next relationships will only be better as I now know what it feels like to fall in love and how I should keep myself aware of the bigger picture in life at all times. We can easily lose sight and get caught up in the infatuation and feelings of romance. We can also easily get caught up in the feelings of bitterness, pain and over-thinking of what went “wrong” when the relationship ends.

Every emotion and experience serves us and it takes time for us to get over all the negative, confused emotions and thoughts to embrace that concept. I feel I am at my peak with my sense of self worth and what I deserve in a man and that will only expand in the future. Life just gets better and better as time goes on….if you let it.

When I now think of what I want in my man/husband, there is more on the list than there was 18 months ago. My ex was everything I wanted back then, the guys after him have been an upgrade since and now I am still adding to that list (I’d listen to Beyoncé – Upgrade U after the breakup quite frequently 😉 hehe). I cannot wait to meet this amazing companion. However I am happy being single at the moment and I’m so in love with myself and life that I feel fulfilled. I feel satisfied yet excited and open to receiving more of life’s great gifts which are beyond our imagination. It’s all about finding that balance between feeling fulfilled and happy with life yet also aware and open to new experiences. Being so satisfied with life that you feel bored is stagnation, keep the imagination flowing.

So I’d like to say thank you to the universe for that heartbreak I experienced last year and the amazing year I’ve had being single. I feel strong, I feel love, I feel joy, I feel invincible, I feel aware and I feel expansive. As Anthony Robbins says, “Raise your standards.” Life presents you with higher standards through mistakes and so you can only receive better if you embrace every lesson life brings.

Attachments are a hindrance

I have a book called Angel Messages  by Juan Nakamori which I have had for years and love to look into for little messages of guidance and positivity. My cousin gave it to me at a time where I was very depressed and whenever I’ve found myself feeling lost or upset, I will randomly open a page or think of a number and take in the message I see. Today the message I was given read:

“As you free yourself from attachment, you will gain spontaneity. As you remove restrictions, you will gain freedom.” – Page 34

This message resonates with me very well. I believe that attachments to people and things hold you back and as you become so conformable with what you have, you lose the spontaneity to do exciting things and progress in life.

I believe that the perfect mate is someone who you can be spontaneous with and someone that you are so close to where you feel like yourself at all times. You can do whatever you want in life and achieve your ambitions without the fear of that person leaving you or hindering you in any way. Many relationships are restrictive without us realising. Sometimes we resist our true selves out of fear, fear that our actions will upset others. However we need to remember that our lives belong to ourself. The people we cherish will stick with us though whatever we wish to pursue. People who try to knock you down or hold you back are insecure and not people you want to surround yourself with. I’ve found that I’m at my happiest, most free and spontaneous when single and focused on loving my friends and family. The men that have come into my life have been good to me however it’s very easy to fall into the trap of compromising yourself for them which results in holding yourself back without realising. I have seen this with my friends and other girls. I’ve always been aware that I need a man as adventurous and as free as myself who I can have an amazing relationship with. You can definitely maintain your independence and pursue the life you dream of with the right person, however my main point is that it is very easy to become attached, reliant and comfortable in a relationship which can result in loss of ambition.

Focus on yourself and trust that the right people will enter and stay in your life. Allow yourself to enjoy life and stop letting your attachments and restrictions hold you back from being your truest, most authentic self.

Just a sweet guy? Or a Man too?

It’s great having a guy that is a gentleman and treats you so well however make sure he’s also a MAN. Don’t let his sweet gestures and words take you over, he needs to be able to prove he will stick by you and not waver because of his insecurities. He may be a genuine and kind hearted guy however people can be quick to say things and blurt out whatever they’re feeling at the time such as “I love you”.  Does he just want someone to dote on and is infatuated by you or do his words have actual substance and longevity? Sometimes people are scared of their own feelings and wish to regress.

When push comes to shove and he’s no longer there for you, that’s his fault for not being able to handle having a WOMAN.

Heartbreak and Self Worth – Part 2

In July, I bumped into an old friend from university on graduation whom had liked me since first year. I was aware of this at that time however I was never ready to take it past friendship. I felt this immediate and strong attraction to him after that day and there’s always been chemistry between us and so we started talking again. He was amazing, everything I wanted after my ex. He treated me well, always told me I was perfect and beautiful, he would tell me how much he wanted to spoil me, I felt myself around him and so comfortable. It helped that we were friends before anything since I felt every feeling we expressed wasn’t just based on infatuation. Good things really do go for better to come along. However I was still seeing other people since I did not want a relationship and I told him I wasn’t after a relationship to clear any misunderstandings. He had just got out of a relationship. We were both so loving towards eachother, we said we hadn’t felt so comfortable and close to someone before. He told me that I made him very happy and feel great about himself since his ex’s were quite selfish. The only issue was that he lived far away so we’d only see eachother once a month but whenever we were together it was the best. I felt so close to him in every way, I felt bliss. we felt great appreciation for eachother and I was loving it.

Things got deeper and we started to like eachother more however we’d say that as a relationship it would be hard since not seeing eachother all the time would eventually take its toll on us. I was enjoying going with the flow and just relishing in all the positive aspects. I lost the desire to talk to other guys however I also felt that by forcing commitment it would make the love between us conditional and I didn’t’ want us to hurt eachother since a lot of expectations come from commitment. 4 months later and things have changed within a week.

He has chosen to pursue and be with a friend of his from where he lives since he so desperately wants a girlfriend. He had mentioned earlier this week that he couldn’t handle the distance between us and wanted to see other people. At first I wasn’t bothered because we never said we can’t date others however my ego came into play I started thinking dark thoughts. It felt liken the heartbreak from the previous break up was all coming back to me.  I could feel he was slipping away from me during the week and that I may not be seeing him again in the romantic way and it hurt me. I started thinking fear based thoughts such as “he doesn’t want me anymore” , “he’s going to find someone and I’m not going to be with him again”, “I don’t want anyone else”, “how could he say all those things to me and now do this?”, “men are so fickle” etc.

I then reminded myself that when I finally found happiness after the split from my ex it was because I surrendered to the universe, accepted what was, focused on myself and embraced faith. I was full of life and love and this guy was the one that wanted to pursue me and liked me loads originally, I just went with the flow.

When he told me this morning that the girl had asked him out, I kept my replies graceful with a hint of bitchiness. He needs to know I’m fully aware of my self worth and not upset (which I’m not) and boy am I grateful that I have dealt with this disappointment so well. I feel great and strong, I do not feel as if I’ve lost anything and I am more driven to do well for myself since I’ve seen how well things flow into place and how ever-changing life is. If we find ourselves back in eachother’s arms, we’ll see, since I know he’s always liked me loads and always will. This relationship he is in may work well or it may not. Things are always perfect at first however he’s pursued a relationship for the sake of having a girlfriend since he’s bored of being single. He wants to fill a void and has given up the amazing love we have/had out of desperation.

I control how I feel and I can’t help that he feels the way he does, however I feel great because life goes on and I am too blessed to be getting upset. Never let the other person’s faults make you think you are lacking something. You are special, beautiful and amazing and it’s not your fault that other people can’t see or value that. We are all human and we all make mistakes  As long as you have your own back and stay true to yourself, nothing or no-one will phase you.

There is no room for self pity or sadness here. Only positivity and strength.

Heartbreak and Self Worth – Part 1

When me and my first love split up in January 2012 after 9 months of being together, I told myself positive things such as “everything happens for a reason”, “good things go for better to come along” however I felt as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest and there a huge missing piece (cliché I know). When we first fall in love, we make mistakes and become slaves to our emotions and feelings. I was so confused when I was falling for him since I didn’t understand all the feelings when I first fell for him and so I got very attached. However I became attached because HE was attached to me and would tell me he loved me and would never hurt me. I though I was safe, Never rely on someone’s words. Attachment brings pain.  A lot of the things happen without us realising no matter how strong we are as single women. The romance in the air takes over and feels like ecstasy. A few months into the relationship I felt as if I had stopped loving myself and started relying on him for love which is the biggest mistake anyone can make: looking outside of one-self for love. When we split up, I felt as if I had forgotten how to be single and live for myself because everything had become about him even though I thought I had still prioritised myself. It is very easy to become too comfortable in a relationship and lose sight of your life and how far you want to go. It’s as if the relationship becomes an obstacle since you have someone other than yourself to think about and insecurities come into play such as “what if we grow apart”, “what if he looks elsewhere for comfort”. The attachment was like a drug because whenever we were apart it killed and I needed him. Relationships can be blissful however it must be from a place of unwavering happiness within yourself.

The pain of heartbreak was horrible, sometimes I felt great and then all of a sudden the pain and insecure, negative thoughts would come back to me. I had lost myself, I felt like I was crawling myself back into the light of positivity and unconditional self love. I am known for my confidence, positive attitude and strength as I’m always helping my girls feel good about themselves yet I was crying my eyes out everyday saying that no-one will ever love me. This was not me.

Sometimes you have to accept you’re hurt and let out all the anger and pain. I was trying to tame it and hope it faded away. When I finally accepted I was angry and hurt, the pain and unresolved bitterness started to dissipate. I gradually found myself again and felt stronger, wiser and better. I felt single and happy, I didn’t need a man and didn’t feel I had to rush into a relationship. I was so happy and in love with myself, I was shining. So many men were being attracted to me however I stayed focused on myself. I established what I wanted in my next perfect lover however I also know that mistakes are made to be learned from and to grow. Nobody is perfect and life is always giving us lessons to better ourselves. I don’t need to be with someone to feel good and I’m young and have a lot to explore yet before finding the one. Once I had got all of my confidence back, I felt fulfilled and more aware of the bigger picture. I told myself to always prioritise myself no matter what so that next time I go through a breakup, I will not feel so lost since relationships are to be learned from and we are always a work in progress. There are plenty more fish in the sea! Don’t limit yourself through fear, let the best things come to you with faith.