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BY BETH WHIFFEN Cosmo uncovers the secret body-language clues that reveal your dude's deepest desires ‑- almost instantly. Mention the words sharing and feelings in the same sentence and most guys ‑- yes, even if they're super comfortable with you ‑- will run to the nearest sports bar, where they can avoid using modern language entirely. "Men are taught to stifle emotion, so they often have trouble verbalizing their thoughts and feelings," explains psychologist Alon Gratch, Ph.D., author of If Men Could Talk. But lucky for you, even if your guy won't open up, his mug will give him away. "The face is considered the most expressive body part because its muscles are linked to the emotional centers in the brain," says anthropologist David B.Givens, Ph.D., author of Love Signals. "The slightest shift in mood registers as a specific facial gesture, making it extremely difficult to conceal one's true feelings." Learn to decode these uncons...

by Susan Campbell, PhD Want your guy to take care of dinner once in a while? Want him to help you get some time to yourself? That doesn't sound like too much to ask. So why do we all have such a tough time asking? In this excerpt from her book Saying What's Real: 7 Keys to Authentic Communication and Relationship Success , Susan Campbell, PhD, explains that being assertive and diplomatic isn't as difficult as we think: Why We Don't Say What We Want Some people are uncomfortable expressing wants because they imagine they'll appear demanding or controlling. ("What if I ask for what I want, and he sees me as a nag?") But my clients and I are discovering that expressing wants can be an act of transparency or vulnerability. It really depends on the intent. Are you asking in a way that reveals what you want? Or does your manner of asking imply a threat that if you don't get what you want, there's going to be trouble? Asking in a way that rev...

by Sherry Amatenstein When looking at the man in your life, do you ever grumble to yourself, "What's wrong with him? He never brings flowers or does anything romantic"? Or "He drives me crazy with all the hearts and flowers stuff"? Believe it or not, the problem may not be your guy at all. Really! If you're unsatisfied with your main man, it could be as simple as this: Your guy is a great guy but he may not be the right great guy for you . The first step toward finding the best kind of lover for you figuring out what kind of lover you are. To get in touch with yourself, list everything from your fantasies (Brad Pitt at the door) to the qualities you prefer in a partner (someone who calls twice a day, not once a week) to the sort of relationship you're looking for (casual, marriage, etc.). And just for fun, take a look at my dating guide . Sure, I'm basically kidding here, but it just might help you figure out what your love style is -- and...

by Dr. Kevin Leman Did you know that your birth order can affect your relationship? Find out which marriage combinations work best -- and how yours compares -- in this excerpt from The Birth Order Connection now. BEST BIRTH ORDER MARRIAGES Only child and youngest; first-born and youngest; middle child and youngest: Gender plays a role here as well. If you want the absolute best match, it's female only or first-born marrying a male youngest child who has older sisters. The last born with older sisters is going to be the sort of person who brings out the maternal instinct in women, and the oldest sister is likely to have great maternal urges. The young man has grown up with girls who have doted on him, cared for him, and generally treated him like one of their cuddly toys. This is the same sort of treatment he seeks in a wife, and the best place he'll find it is with an oldest sister. The match works both ways. The first-born needs someone to show her pleasures of sunsets,...

by Sherry Amatenstein -- Excerpted from Love Lessons from Bad Breakups It's one thing to be aware that you have negative romantic patterns you continually repeat; another entirely to actually stop those self-defeating behaviors . The good news: With will and work, change is possible. I picked the brains of a variety of leading therapists and experts to provide you with tips that prove an old dog can learn new tricks: Take a Cue from Gloria Gaynor. Whether or not there is a partner at your side, you will survive. Making it though a breakup without cracking up (at least not permanently) gives you an underbelly of strength. It may not yet be of industrial-strength size proportions but it's a start. To coin another lyric associated with a pop culture icon, once you emotionally own that you're gonna make it after all you no longer need a lover to make you feel whole. Ergo you no longer need to act in the old self-defeating ways. Dr. Alma Halbert Bond, PhD, author of I Marrie...

by Jane Nahirny, provided by Divorce Magazine Over the past 25 years, attitudes toward second marriages have been tempered by society's growing acceptance of divorce. Anne, a 32-year-old woman who has plans of her own to marry a divorced man with children, remembers her mother's remarriage in the mid-1970s: "There was no such thing as family counseling. There were no books for children about divorce or stepfamilies. We were expected to just 'get along' with our new sisters and brothers -- but let me tell you, we were no Brady Bunch!" While the divorce rate in stepfamilies is higher than that in nuclear families, Dr. Peter Marshall, author of Cinderella Revisited: How to Survive Your Stepfamily Without a Fairy Godmother , says that there are two points that need to be made: "The first is that this risk decreases after the first three years; it's the early phase of stepfamily development that seems to place particular strain on the marriage ... The seco...

by Compiled by Ilana Arazie "I find myself missing him less each day and I find that the days are passing much more quickly. Am I over him? I doubt it, but I'm on the right track." -- jleyritz Whether you were dating for a few months, in a long-term relationship or married, breaking up is hard to do. The good news is that life does get better. Eventually, you will be able to get out of your robe, lose the boxes of Kleenex and watch reruns of Mad About You without breaking down in tears. Many of our members know exactly how you feel right now. Read their tips on getting over him and getting on with your life. 1. Get it all out "Cry, scream and feel sorry for yourself. Wallow in self-pity. However, one day while you are wallowing you will suddenly say, 'Hey I don't feel like wallowing anymore today. I feel better.' And the next day you will feel better and each day after that you will feel even better. Soon, something amazing happens, you rediscover your sm...