IN THIS ISSUE:

• Featured Article
  10 Things Not to Do at the Beginning of a Relationship
• Ask Our Coaches
  My boyfriend has no ambition. Should I stay with him?
• Bonus Article
  Should I Stay or Should I Go?

• Announcements
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FEATURED Article

10 Things Not to Do at the Beginning of a Relationship

Relationships are fragile, especially in the beginning. First impressions are important and so are second and third impressions. How you handle yourself can make a difference in whether the relationship has a chance or not. You want to have time to get to know the other person to decide if he/she is someone you might be interested in. How many times have you thought this might be "the one" only to not hear back from them after a date or two? Even worse, you have a few dates, but then the communication stops and you are left wondering what happened. What went wrong?

Here is a list of ten things you don't want to do in the beginning of a relationship.

1. Your "list" of what you are looking for keeps you from getting to know the person. Be really careful about dating with a list of qualities you are looking for. If you have read any of my other posts, you have heard me talk about looking for qualities of a relationship and not a specific person. You might just miss a wonderful match by not being open enough in your search. What you think you want might not really be what you want.
2. You try too hard to impress the other person so they do not see the real you.
3. You are a passive observer on the date, checking them out to see if they match your list so you don't really share who you are. They do not get the chance to learn enough about you to be interested in another date.
4. The opposite happens sometimes and you try too hard and end up over sharing. It is good to keep some mystery so they want to learn more about you. Also keep in mind that some things are just not appropriate to share in the beginning of a relationship.
5. Moving too fast too soon is another mistake some people make. They start planning future events and trips too early on in the dating process. I have known people to plan weekend getaways after a first or second date. Taking things slower is a better idea.
6. Talking about a future or asking too many questions about future goals too soon is also a mistake. Yes, you do want to learn about the other person so you can decide if they are dating material, but be careful how you do this. Don’t make it sound like an interview.
7. Having sex too soon with expectations is another mistake. I suggest you wait before having sex until you know more about the other person and have a better idea if they really are someone you see as a potential partner. If you choose to have sex before then, make sure you both agree on what that means to the relationship.
8. Dropping everything to hang out with this new person is also a mistake. It is important to keep your life and activities while you are dating. Make room for someone new, but do not give up your life for them.
9. Becoming too possessive is another big mistake I see singles making. They have unrealistic expectations and become angry when the other person does not meet them.
10. Finally, if you are a female, let the guy do the pursuing. Do not take on the masculine role of organizing the dates and chasing after him. If you are a guy, be the pursuer, and let her know you are interested.

The first few dates can be awkward, and it is difficult to know exactly how to act. Try to be yourself and put your best foot forward to make a good impression. Take things slow, and get to know the other person and let them get to know you. If you have a more casual attitude, it will take some of the pressure off both of you. Have fun with the dating process, enjoy getting to know new people, and you will find that right one for you in time.

Copyright © 2016 by Lori Ann Davis and The Relationship Coaching Institute. All rights reserved in all media. Used with permission.

Lori Ann Davis,MA, CRS empowers singles and couples to live richer, fuller, happier lives by helping them create unstoppable relationships. Lori is a Certified Relationship Specialist with over 25 years experience. For more information and free Radical Marriage resources for couples visit www.lorianndavis.com

Ask Our Coaches

My boyfriend has no ambition. Should I stay with him?

Dear Coaches,

My boyfriend (he's 26) works at a low level job in a retail store. He is happy with his job, even though the pay is terrible and he doesn't get full time hours. I keep encouraging him to look for another job, but he's not interested. I don't know what to do. We have been together for 2 years and I am tired of being the only responsible one in our relationship. Should I stay with him, or break up and look for someone else?

Kemi responds ...

Sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. You stated that you are the only responsible one in your relationship. Have you identified your needs to see if they align with your partner's? Are you both heading towards the same direction in life (are your goals aligned) in the years ahead? How do you both complement each other? These are some of the questions you will need to think through to determine if your partner is the one for you.

Kemi Sogunle | www.kemionline.com

Lewis responds ...

Your answer is contained within your question. You say you are "tired" of being the only responsible one in your relationship. It sounds like a requirement for you is having a partner who has drive to get ahead in his career. If he is happy with his job, he has no impetus to seek a higher paying job. You've told him how you feel and that hasn't motivated him. It is unlikely he will change. Time to move on. In your future dating, pay attention to this requirement earlier in the process.

Lewis Denbaum | www.madlyinloveforever.com

Wendy responds ...

It seems like you have arrived at an impasse in your relationship. From what you've shared it appears that you are taking responsibility for creating your own success. Your boyfriend does not seem to share your ambition or enthusiasm for growth. If nothing changed, could you see yourself being happy with him in 5 years? Perhaps you would like to start a family in the near future. Could you be content with the way things are?

Either your boyfriend is genuinely happy with his low-level, low-paying job or he may believe that he is either not capable or not deserving of something better. Maybe he would like to feel more confident but his fear keeps him stuck, or maybe he's content with coasting where he is. Perhaps you can have a conversation and find out more. Meanwhile, remember, he is his own person and you are only responsible for yourself. It’s time for you to clarify your vision for the future you want, and identify what you need to share with the right partner for you. Don’t settle for less than you really want!

Wendy Lyon | www.DrWendyLyon.com

Lynn responds ...

It can be very frustrating when people have different values around areas like ambition. It sounds from what you have said like this is a problem for you and you say that you're tired of being the only responsible one. Your suggestions of finding a different job seem to have fallen on deaf ears with your boyfriend because he is content.

If you stay together, how do you think it is likely to go? How much energy do you anticipate you'll have to invest in trying to get him to change? How likely is it that he ever will change?

In this early "pre-commitment" stage you have the opportunity to see whether or not you two are a good fit in areas that are important to you. Have you ever created a vision of how you want your relationship to be long-term? It sounds like ambition is very important to you. What might your life be like with a partner who shared your approach to ambition? Often we think we can change someone into who we want them to be! Unfortunately this doesn't work for either person.

I encourage you to think about how you want your future to be and whether your current boyfriend is a good fit. Good luck in making that decision!

Lynn Goodacre | www.lovecoachlynn.com

Linda responds ...

It sounds like this is very important to you, in fact more important than it is to your boyfriend. If you're not able to accept his choices, I mean truly accept it and this causes you some angish, then make a decision. You also mention "I am tired of being the only responsible one in our relationship. " Sounds like you equate responsibility to a higher income and more work hours. How else do you define responsibility and is being responsible something important to you? Is he responsible in other ways?

After you answer these questions, ask yourself, if you can live with this? I'm not sure if you're living together, I'm guessing that you aren't, so the next comment is with this in mind. If you've been going out with each other for two years, and have talked to him about how his lack of motivation to find a better job and responsibility affect you and what you need around this, I suggest making a decision in favor of what's best for you. The sooner you decide, the better off you'll be and you'll be putting more importance in your needs and requirements.

Linda Robert | www.lindagrobert.com

The opinions stated are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the staff, members, or leadership of Relationship Coaching Institute.

This column answers questions submitted by our readers. Submit your question here and it will be forwarded to our coaches all over the world. Each issue, we'll publish a few answers from our RCI coaches.

Bonus Article

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

How painful it must be to care for someone enough to have stayed together for two years, yet feel that something is missing from the relationship, something important enough to make you feel as though you must consider leaving the relationship. You have been fairly clear about how the lack of ambition makes you consider leaving the relationship.

Perhaps we can also explore why you would want to stay, since that is what you have done until now, and then look at the results side by side, to see if it tells you anything new.

First, think about what it was about your partner that first attracted you. Is it still there? Do you still feel the same? Next, think about what was it that made you feel as if you could say "I love you" to your partner for the first time. Do you feel the same, or has that changed over time? Other than your feelings about the lack of ambition, do you still have feelings of love and attraction for your partner? Or have those changed at all, a little or a lot? If you still have feelings of love and attraction for your partner that are the same or stronger, what would you need to see happen in order to be able to resolve the "lack of ambition" issue?

If, however, your feelings have changed, have lessened, have you acknowledged this change for yourself and with each other? To what do you attribute the changes?

For many couples, it is tempting to attribute a loss of closeness or love to a specific issue, such as one partner having less ambition that the other partner would like. However, more often than not, it is much more complex than having a conflict over a single issue.

If you like, try this brief thought-exercise. Without thinking about it too much, complete the following statement: My partner has become as ambitious as I could ever hope for, and now I feel ________________ because it means I can ____________________.

How did that go for you? Did you feel happy and relieved when you thought about your partner finally stepping up to what you'd hoped for in terms of ambition?

Or did you immediately think of something else that was wrong or that could potentially get in the way of your happiness?

If the first result was yours, it may be that ambition really is a requirement for you. Perhaps you didn't understand that when you met, so now the two of you will have to figure out if you can live with it the way it is.

If, on the other hand, yours was the second result, you are like many other couples who attribute the loss of closeness and love in their relationship to a single issue when in fact it is much more complicated than that. Chances are, even if your partner suddenly got ambitious, all would not be well.

Ask yourself if you need to take a closer look at what you want from a partner in a relationship. And then ask yourself if your current partner embodies your requirements, or if you are really just hoping he or she will someday. Finally, ask yourself if you've settled for someone who does not meet your needs and requirements but you've hooked up because you don't have anyone else.

Don't be hard on yourself if this is the case. Everyone gets lonely at times and you're right to try and take care of yourself when you do. But for those who want to practice Conscious Dating, settling for someone who is not your right partner choice has the unwanted effect of making you unavailable when your true right partner does come along.

Bottom line -- you got some thinking to do. I wish I could simply give you an answer to relieve your heartache and your dilemma, but as you can see, it is likely not that simple. But if you will take a closer look at your requirements, needs and wants, and take an honest look, not at your partner's ambition or lack thereof, but at the relationship as a whole, and your role in it, then you'll be able to answer your own question of should I stay or should I go.

Copyright © 2016 by Leah Cochrane and The Relationship Coaching Institute. All rights reserved in all media. Used with permission.

Leah Cochrane,MA, MS is a Coach and Mentor for singles of any orientation who are looking for commitment and marriage. Leah is a Relationship Coach, a Marriage & Family Therapist and creator of "Spirit of Romance: a Seeker’s Roadmap to Finding Lasting Love©

For more information visit www.leahcochrane.com

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