Finding yourself single after being in a long-term relationship may cause you to shrink back and swear off love forever. There’s nothing wrong with this type of thinking, as long as you don’t hold yourself to it. It’s normal to overreact immediately after the breakup, but give yourself permission to change your mind.
As time passes, you’re likely to meet new people, develop new interests and discover some things about yourself that you never knew before. Take advantage of the opportunity to step out into uncharted territory and experience life. If someone interesting comes along, you may want to consider getting to know him or her to see if there’s any chance of a relationship. Even if you decide not to pursue dating this person after going out a couple of times, you’ll at least have more experience and knowledge of what you do or do not want.
Immediately After the Breakup
Before you start dating again, take stock of what went wrong in the relationship. You don’t want to make the same mistakes, or you’ll wind up in the same boat in the future. Talk to two or three of your closest friends separately and ask for their observations. This may be difficult, but you want their honesty in order to prevent a replay.
After you process what your friends tell you, work on changing what you can about yourself. If you have a history of dating cheaters, jot down some similarities in these people. You may see other trends and patterns as you go. Although some of what you noticed in former partners may be common traits, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all people who do those things will cheat. Just be cautious and aware.
Get a Makeover
You don’t have to change the way you look or do a major overhaul of your core values. The key is to find something to boost your confidence and self-esteem before stepping back out there into the dating world.
Makeover suggestions:
- Have your hair restyled and updated.
- Purchase a few trendy pieces to add pizzazz to your wardrobe.
- Take a class to learn something new.
- If you feel it would help, seek therapy to discover something new about yourself.
Warnings About Memories
You may occasionally experience painful memories of your past with your former partner. This can send you into a state of mourning. Allow a small period of grief then take charge of turning the feeling into a positive experience.
Things that can cause you to grieve a broken relationship:
- running into that person
- seeing pictures of the person
- hearing old songs that transport you to a happy time
- a phone call from your ex
Evaluate your feelings when you find yourself in any of these situations. If your grief is insurmountable, you may not be ready to start dating again. Once you are able to get past the initial sadness quickly, you are starting to heal and should consider dating again.
Meeting New People
Once you start meeting new people, you may feel awkward and inept. This is normal, but after a few experiences, you’ll grow more comfortable. Over time, you’ll probably realize that you weren’t as happy as you thought you were. Enjoy being single and free from the constraints of whatever problems you had in your former relationship that wasn’t working.
Tips when dating new people:
- Avoid falling into the rut of bashing your ex.
- Formulate a brief explanation of why your former relationship failed then move on to a different subject.
- Be prepared to face your ex if you live in a small community or visit old haunts.
- Don’t compare people you meet to your ex.
- Pay attention to body language to gauge the other person’s interest.
Immediately after a breakup or divorce, allow time to grieve. Then take some time to get a makeover and rediscover yourself. Realize that you’ll be struck with old memories, but don’t allow them to send you into a downward spiral of negativity. When you’re ready, meet new people and be open to a fresh relationship.
Twitter Rules of Dating
While social networking may be good for business or friendship, sharing too many details of a new relationship could cause problems. Following are some rules for using Twitter when in a new relationship, asking someone out, or even after a breakup.
No Asking Someone Out With a Tweet
Twitter messages can be viewed by anyone with an Internet connection. If singles are interested in asking out a potential new love interest, they should do it with a phone call, private text, or through face-to-face conversation. “In person” is always the best approach.
No Posting Pictures of a Date
Photos are easy to post on Twitter using sites like Twitpic, but never assume that a picture is fair game to post. If one partner doesn’t want their picture up it can cause big problems in a new relationship. It’s best to err on the side of caution when photos are involved.
No Complaining About a Relationship on Twitter
Even if daters break up, there is no reason to post the details on a social networking site. Daters should be aware that anyone can read their tweets, and that includes a potential new love interest. Why ruin a chance to meet someone new based on things said during an emotional moment on your computer?
Rather than lamenting online about a failed relationship or lackluster partner, daters should chat up their pals in person to get complaints off their chests. Personal contact with a pal is always better for healing wounds.
No Tweeting While on a Date
When singles are on a really great date, they may want to let the entire world know how happy they are. But daters should avoid the urge to tweet about the step-by-step details of a date. Not only is it rude, but it takes attention away from the actual date. While one partner may be tweeting happily away, the other may be silently wondering why their date is being so distant and uncommunicative.
Breakups Should Be Tweeted About in a Positive Fashion
Regardless of the reason for breaking up, one partner should never bash the other on Twitter. If a breakup or past partner must be referred to, do it positively and briefly. Repeatedly posting negative tweets about someone makes the tweeter look bad.
No Adding a Date’s Followers
When dating someone new, it’s natural to see who is following his or her tweets. However, just like in person, daters cannot assume they are instantly a part of their date’s past. It takes time to get to know someone, whether the communication is done in person or online.
If singles genuinely get to know their partner’s followers in person, then it’s perfectly acceptable to follow them or add them to a friend list.
No Obsessing About Who Your Partner is Tweeting With
Realizing that new object of your affection has ex’s as followers may come as a shock, but resist the urge to ask him or her about it. Social networking friends fall into a different category than personal friends. Often, people tweet with individuals they barely know except for the communication they share online.
In addition, it’s difficult to know the nature of an online conversation if a few tweets are all that is visible. Ignore the tweets of another unless he or she engages in suspicious behavior. If there are questions about cheating or inappropriate emotional attachments, then a face-to-face conversation is needed.
Twitter is a wonderful method of online communication. But when it comes to the dating, it’s best to be a bit cautious before sharing details online that can’t be taken back. Even if a relationship is happy, there is always a detail or two that should be best kept private.
It’s all too easy to over share, and it could hurt a new relationship before it even gets off the ground. In the early stages of any relationship, tweet with caution!
