2. Design a relationship-building plan for 2003. Let the holiday provide you with the motivation to take risks, try new ideas and gain the knowledge that will enable you to find and create a lasting, intimate relationship. - Sit down at the computer or with pen and paper in hand and get your plan written down.
- Begin by making a list of resources that can be used to help you meet available singles. These can include: on-line dating sites, singles groups, volunteer activities, or participation in sports or other activities that you enjoy.
- Decide when and how often you will participate in any activity you have chosen.
*Make a budget for both time and available funds for this purpose. - Do your homework and research each resource so the information will be available when you need it.
3. Review those resolutions you made, or make some if you haven't yet. Think about what is really important to you. Remind yourself that implementing and sticking to these will help ensure that you are really ready for that special relationship. Being the kind of person you want to be with is the first step. Begin with concrete goals. For example: stick with a healthy diet, exercise three times a week, plan one organizational task per week, etc. Taking care of yourself and living well, will optimize your chances for relationship success. Start today. 4. Work to eliminate negative thinking. When a negative thought comes into your mind, take a moment to think about what is beneath it. Then, tell yourself that thinking this way is not good for you. Make a decision to drop the thought and try to think of something (anything) that is positive. It can be as simple as focusing on what a beautiful day it is outside, to feeling grateful that you survived the current wave of lay-offs in your company. Use this technique for situations as well. Ask yourself how you can view the situation differently. Try to find one positive angle or outcome that could result from an otherwise bad situation. For example, you are being laid off from your job. You have been unhappy for a long time, but could not motivate yourself to do anything about it. Now, you have the motivation to look for a new job, or perhaps change careers. Think of all the possibilities that could open up for you. Negative thinking is a downward spiral that leads to negative behavior and possibly depression. Consciously choose to challenge these thoughts, and empower yourself with a more positive outlook and approach to life. Hopefully these tips will assist you in having a better "solo" Valentine's Day than you might have been headed for. Enjoy the day by doing something fun. Then focus on your relationship plan and empower yourself to build the healthy, lasting relationship of your dreams. Frequently Asked Questions Q. I want to do something fun on Valentines Day. I really just want to take my mind off of the whole couples thing and feel ok to be who and where I am right now. My problem is with my friends. I am a female and most of my friends are too. We have talked about getting together and doing something un-Valentine's Day. My concern is that my friends will be very negative in their approach to all this. I find it hard to sit and listen to everyone compl ain about how there are no good guys around to date, etc. I'm not sure if I should do something with the group or alone. What do you think? A. Sometimes the group (as a group) feeds on itself and makes the negativity worse. Can you (as a group) agree to keep things light and fun? Could you agree to "rules" about no negative comments or feelings being aired? Perhaps you could all go somewhere, maybe to a movie or play, where there is a structure and a focus provided. If not, consider going out with, or getting together with, a few friends from your group. You know, the fun ones who make you laugh, not cry. In the event this is not possible, you will have to decide if a quiet evening in, or a solo activity out, are preferable to being bombarded with negative comments regarding your accessibility to potential dates and future partners. Q. I would like to pretend that Valentine's Day doesn't exist. After all, it has become just another day of "celebration" that is overly commercialized and puts stress on those in relationships as well as those who feel left out. Does this sound strange? Will ignoring it work for me? A. It sounds all too familiar. After all, good relationships don't (or shouldn't) require that we do something special under pressure, one day a year. Instead, relationships are about all those days that we do the best we can, which is the best way to demonstrate caring. That being said, it can be hard to ignore the 14 of February. Think about how you would feel during and after, if you took this approach. Also ask yourself if you feel that way because you are single. If so, would the day consist of hurt and/or angry feelings? If so, you may need to be more proactive in your approach. Plan your day, rather than wait for it to just happen. Love yourself by vowing to have a good day, free of negative feelings. Do something special that is very un-Valentines Day. Or, if you choose, do nothing "special" at all. Just take care to focus on the positive while minimizing and containing the negative. End Notes This issue was designed to help singles to have a good, productive (solo) Valentine's Day. Remember that healthy self-love is a cornerstone of all healthy couple relationships. Let the day motivate and inspire you as you begin your own relationship-building plan for 2003. |