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If men and women are truly equal, then men must stop bending over backwards in the pursuit of making women happy, right men? Relationships are increasingly full-fledged partnerships after all, so why should we be the only ones trying to make women happy? We want to be happy and boys just want to have fun as well, so here are 10 things that men look for in the pursuit of happiness and Ms. Perfect. Read the list and answer the question that all men deliberate: do we prefer a pretty face or a beautiful body? 10. Charm Remember that Seinfeld episode when Jerry went out with that stunning blonde babe who got him out of every bad situation (speeding ticket, etc.)? Well, maybe this occurred because she was a babe, but I think she had such power because she was charming. If a woman can make you smile, then she has the charm to get out of any situation and will prove to become quite an ally. Charm is what draws men to those women who are not as good-looking as the others in our black book. ...

Every relationship needs a solid foundation if it's to survive all life can throw at it. Relationship psychotherapist Paula Hall looks at the seven essentials that spell success. 1. Love yourself Unless you love yourself, it's hard for you to believe that anyone else will. Self-esteem is important for a healthy relationship. When you truly like yourself, in spite of any failings and weaknesses you may have, you'll feel confident. And when you feel confident and secure within yourself, you can enjoy being with your partner for the joy they bring to your life, not because you feel you need them to survive. For tips on building confidence see the Improving confidence site. If you've had bad experiences in the past, it's worth working through these issues with a trusted friend or counsellor. It can be tempting to lean on your partner and rely on them for reassurance, but the stronger you are as an individual, the stronger and more equal your relationship will be. 2. L...

“Miles and miles and miles apart, Although so far you’ve touched my heart, Your laugh, your voice, your adoring smile, Seems to shorten every mile.” Love cannot be measured by distances. The relationship is measured by the depth of emotions. Trust and loyalty are the only wheels of love to eternity. Long Distances can become a torment, but cannot be a barrier in love. There are lots of things that one can do to keep up the romance in long relationship. So not to worry if you are miles away from your love, just go through the following romantic ideas to keep your relationship exciting and intimate: • Surprise gifts: when they are not expecting, send you partner flowers, cards and letters occasionally. • Memories: capture and share that interesting moment of yours by exchanging photos, video clips. Post a declaration of your love on youtube. • Surprise visits: show them how much you care for your love and that you will do anything for them by planning a surprise visit. Plan the visit eve...

Every relationship needs a solid foundation if it's to survive all life can throw at it. Relationship psychotherapist Paula Hall looks at the seven essentials that spell success. 1. Love yourself Unless you love yourself, it's hard for you to believe that anyone else will. Self-esteem is important for a healthy relationship. When you truly like yourself, in spite of any failings and weaknesses you may have, you'll feel confident. And when you feel confident and secure within yourself, you can enjoy being with your partner for the joy they bring to your life, not because you feel you need them to survive. For tips on building confidence see the Improving confidence site. If you've had bad experiences in the past, it's worth working through these issues with a trusted friend or counsellor. It can be tempting to lean on your partner and rely on them for reassurance, but the stronger you are as an individual, the stronger and more equal your relationship will be. 2. L...

Listen up, guys! Women love it when you: Own a pair of really nice shoes and actually wear them Brush the hair out of our eyes Are able to hold a baby or push a stroller without squirming Plan an evening out from soup to nuts, from finding a movie to making the dinner reservations Kiss creatively Handle our emotions with grace and compassion Have impassioned, informed opinions about women writers and women's issues Can distinguish between being courteous and being wimpy Know how to inscribe a card with a heartfelt, personal message Demonstrate respect for others by standing up when your mother comes to the table, giving up a seat on the bus for a pregnant woman, asking your dad for his opinion and really listening, etc. Show genuine, platonic interest in your female friends' lives Are playful around dogs, cats and kids Make the bed in the morning and fold the laundry -- competently Offer juice, soup and TLC when we're sick Do the come-from-behi...

If you've given up trying to understand the opposite sex on your own, why not go straight to the source for the real scoop? Check out these results of a nationwide survey for the irresistible answers to that age-old question: What attracts the opposite sex? What Women Need to Know: 20 Things Men Find Irresistible Listen up, ladies! Men love it when you: Have the ability to tease, be playful and take a joke Know that men are not, in fact, from Mars, and women are not from Venus Wear our T-shirts and boxers Call us out of the blue (if we're dating; not if we're practically strangers) Kiss creatively Have a social conscience and enjoy a good debate Have an easy-going attitude about watching or participating in athletic events occasionally Are comfortable leading the whole way in bed Ask for advice about non-stereotypically male stuff (yes, guys usually know what CD player to buy, but we like to be taken seriously about other things too) Are charming ...

Want to know the secret? Motivational speaker and author Neen James shares her wisdom on how to nurture and protect those special relationships that are so important to our daily lives. Stay in touch with those you care for Make time to remind people they are special. Write a handwritten note occasionally, send an email, SMS message or phone them. If you find yourself short of time create a bulk catch-up email to family and friends letting them know what you have been doing and that you have been thinking of them. Make the most of how you spend your time Surround yourself with positive people who inspire you and don’t give your time away to those who you don’t enjoy being with. If you have a family or live with someone (i.e. partner or room mate), ask them this question each week: ‘What activities do you have planned this week?’ This will allow you to align your calendars, avoid frustrations and plan time together. Protect your relationships Don’t allow yourself to be in...

Compromise is good but being yourself and sticking to the things that define who you are is a critical component of a healthy relationship. These guideposts help you protect the "me" in "we". By Kelly Jones There's nothing creepier than seeing two lovers with identical haircuts wearing matching jackets and corresponding His and Her outfits walking down the street together. I shudder to think what they're wearing underneath. Although being in a relationship requires the occasional compromise and concession, it doesn't mean you need to change your style or behaviour to match your partner's. In fact, keeping your individuality and encouraging your guy or gal to do the same can mean the difference between a healthy relationship and a doomed one. Embrace Your Quirks Woodworking, trampoline, pilates, soap-making, forensic science, camping — whatever your hobbies are, it's important that you keep at them. Your passions not only help define ...

Finding your perfect match Most people have an idea of their 'type' when it comes to meeting someone new — tall, dark and handsome; slim, blonde and athletic; cuddly, friendly and reliable. These are all characteristics of the kind of person we are looking for, and usually take into account physical attributes, personality type and emotional traits. But what about the 'type' of relationship we are looking for? This could range from short-term commitment, to someone to grow old and dribbly with, and yet for most people, the importance of a match in this department is not fully considered until things are well established, relationship-wise. We've all heard stories of the seemingly perfect couple who, to everyone's surprise, go their separate ways after years of being together, because one wants kids and the other doesn't. Ever. Or the couple that splits because he wants more quality time with her, and she wants to spread her wings? Classic rela...

There's no denying that maintaining a relationship is a lot of work. Almost fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce, and many wonder how people can maintain their relationships over their entire lives. To that end, we've created this article to help showcase some tips that can help you to get through the rough spots in your relationship and keep you happy throughout the duration of your courting. - It's important to keep a light mood in a relationship. While trust and maturity are important to a relationship, it's important to be lighthearted. Relationships are supposed to make us happy; many of us often forget this simple fact and end up getting nothing but grief and stress. Be sure that you can joke with your partner, and that they can poke fun at you. - Try your best not to focus on your differences. If the two of you are in disagreement on a topic, discuss it once and then try to avoid the issue if you're still in conflict. The more differentiation ...

It's as inevitable as it can be - couples fight. No matter how much we tend to believe that a couple could get through life without arguing in a perfect scenario, it's very often not the case. People have many differences, and differences can lead to disagreements. If you follow some simple guidelines for fighting fairly, however, you can ensure that you get through fights without creating worse problems in the relationship. It's important to let your loved one know as soon as you can when a problem starts bothering you. The more you let the issue stew inside of you, the angrier that you will get. When you DO decide to talk about something you've kept inside, you tend to blow up and be really unfair to your loved one. A good guideline for ensuring that you can address the topic fairly is to not argue about anything that occurred 48 hours ago or earlier. Address the issue as soon as you can, and you stand the best chance of resolving the problem. If your loved one won...

by Neil Clark Warren, Ph.D. We've all heard it over and over again. "If you want to find a great relationship, look for an opposite." Is that really the best approach? How can someone who has a different set of values, attitudes and hobbies be so attractive? People who are dramatically different from us are often the most attractive . This comes from a common sense approach to social relationships. Our lives are usually enriched by connections to others who have abilities that we don't have. Unfortunately, applying this lesson to our romantic pursuits is often a recipe for disaster. "If the qualities that attract you to someone are different from your own, be cautious," says Dr. Neil Clark Warren, clinical psychologist and author of "Date or Soul Mate? How To Know If Someone Is Worth Pursuing in Two Dates Or Less." He points out that, while opposites often attract, they also usually drive each other crazy over the long haul....

By Karen Salmansohn So, it finally happened. You lucked out and met someone you feel could be The One—versus the usual just another one. You’re excited. And with this exuberance comes the urge to run, not walk, into a serious commitment. You tell yourself if you feel this strongly, it must be real—so why fake otherwise? You’re not into playing games. But the truth is, you could be playing a big game with yourself if you rush your crush. Your rushing might not be fueled by sheer almighty desire—but by your need to control your partner and the relationship. And, here’s a Big Love Irony: Rushing love actually leads to less control—because often, when you rush that crush you’re more likely to crash that crush. Many people who move speedily into a relationship wind up scaring off a potential partner—or even unwittingly scaring off themselves. There’s also a Big Love Irony, Part 2: It doesn’t matter how fast you get somewhere if you’re heading in the wrong direction. Often when you rush a ...

by Jillian Mackenzie Guys are wired to respond to even the slyest feminine wiles. Activate his imagination with these sexy suggestions, and he'll be aching for you all day. 1. Go commando in low-slung pants. Make sure he finds out before you get home that night -- drop your pencil, checkbook, or house keys, and make a strategic bend for his benefit. Why he'll melt: What you don't reveal is what reels him in. "It's well-known that men are visual creatures," says Howard J. Ruppel, Ph.D., executive director of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. "But they're also problem solvers. Giving him a clue without exposing everything keeps him guessing." In other words, the suggestion of an almost-bare area will lock his mind on exactly when he'll get to explore your bod in its entirety. 2. When he leans in for his usual I'm-off-to-work peck on the lips, grab the back of his head with both hands, pull...

If men and women are truly equal, then men must stop bending over backwards in the pursuit of making women happy, right men? Relationships are increasingly full-fledged partnerships after all, so why should we be the only ones trying to make women happy? We want to be happy and boys just want to have fun as well, so here are 10 things that men look for in the pursuit of happiness and Ms. Perfect. Read the list and answer the question that all men deliberate: do we prefer a pretty face or a beautiful body? 10. Charm Remember that Seinfeld episode when Jerry went out with that stunning blonde babe who got him out of every bad situation (speeding ticket, etc.)? Well, maybe this occurred because she was a babe, but I think she had such power because she was charming. If a woman can make you smile, then she has the charm to get out of any situation and will prove to become quite an ally. Charm is what draws men to those women who are not as good-looking as the others in our black book. ...

You've dated your fair share of women and have always enjoyed keeping your options open, but lately there's this one woman that has you wondering if she's " the one ." In order to help you figure this out, I have compiled the following list of the top 10 ways to know you're in love. 10. You've forgotten your ex More often than not, a breakup is followed by a significant amount of time spent thinking about your ex and wondering whether or not you made the right decision in going your separate ways. Depending on how long the two of you were together, these doubts can resurface again and again. Ever since you met this new one, however, the thought of getting back together with your ex is the furthest thing from your mind. Come to think of it, you barely recall what you found so great about her in the first place. 9. You can't stop thinking about her Instead, you are consumed by thoughts of her. She just pops into your head for no apparent reason, and y...

by Dr. Brenda Shoshanna Based on Zen and the Art of Falling in Love Have you ever thought about the way you take off your shoes? Do you just toss them aside? What if you paid attention to the way you do this every day? According to the principles of Zen, the simple exercise of paying attention to the way you do things -- like taking off your shoes -- can teach you important things about yourself, and in turn, give you a richer, fuller life. That's because Zen is about opening your heart, clearing your mind, becoming present and being exactly who you are. These are also the secrets of falling in love. If you're tired of being single or struggling with the same relationship issues again and again, it's time to learn more about who you really are, what you're expecting in a relationship and how opening up your mind can help you find lasting love. Get started with one of these six exercises from Zen and the Art of Falling in Love : Look at the one right...

by Tracey Cox Do you have a great love life that's just become a bit stagnant? Give me one weekend. Follow my relationship advice, and you can say goodbye to the blahs. With these six simple steps, we'll give that love life — and sex life! — a boost into relationship bliss. Saturday: Repairing Your Relationship Get Real Okay, I have to start with some very tough love, and you're not going to like it. But this is a fact: Your relationship will have the best chance of survival if you let go of your romantic illusions. I'm not saying relationships can't be romantic long-term, but — brace yourself — most of the time they're not. What confuses us is that the same partner that excited us in the beginning can now leave us bored stupid! It's this longing for the past that causes problems in the present. Most relationships start with a heady infusion of intoxicating hormones: You're in a bubble built for two, and there's a feeling of oneness. Over...

by Dr. Brenda Shoshanna Usually we enter relationships hoping they will make us happy. We hope that this person is the right one , that we aren't repeating mistakes of the past, and that finally we will receive the love, support, companionship and admiration we have been searching for. Each person has a shopping list of hopes and expectations, and while those are being fulfilled, everyone is happy. Although this is kind of approach to relationships is normal, it usually brings disappointment because happiness is fleeting. It comes and goes. It has to, because happiness depends upon circumstances. When things go well, we are happy. When we get what we want, when the sun is shining, others value us, our boss is approving, our boyfriend finally pops the question, these are moments of happiness. Joy is different. It doesn't come and go. It doesn't depend upon outer circumstances to be present. When things are difficult, when our hopes are not fulfilled, it is still possible to...