Rinatta Paries

I suspect the pain of being alone is a universal human experience. And I suspect most people seek out relationships to avoid or soothe this pain -- and that they stay in relationships that aren't working for this same reason.

Unfortunately, no relationship can relieve the pain of being permanently alone. Even in the best of relationships, there always comes a time when our friends, family and partners are not available.

When you feel alone, what do you do? Read more…

After a bad relationship experience, many singles take a much-needed relationship break to regroup and recover. Some singles get stuck in this break, however, and stay single for years at a time -- or permanently.

Even though these singles don't enjoy theloneliness, they do appreciate the lack of hurt and drama in the absence of a relationship. Many justify continuing to stay single by saying they are not yet ready for a relationship.

This brings up the question of how a single person mayeffectively get ready for a relationship. Read more…

New Relationship Mistake No. 1: Assume the person is your soul mate immediately upon meeting or shortly thereafter. Look for signs that faith has brought you together and be amazed by the correlations in your lives.

What happens when people think they have found their soul mate? Read more…

There are a surprising number of chronically single people -- bright, nice, loving people who for whatever reason are unlucky in love.

I have already written many articles to address the needs of those chronically single, trying to give them tips to stop being single. I have even written a series of articles on this topic. But I am still getting as many requests for help with this situation as ever. Read more…

Here is an interesting question: When you are dating someone, do you know who you are actually dating? I mean, are you absolutely sure that the person you are "seeing" in front of you is the real person in front of you?

Unfortunately, most people are not sure whom they are dating, or even being intimate with, or sometimes even living with, or -- worst of all -- married to. Most people think they know whom they are with, but in reality they do not. Read more…

As a single person, you have many choices when it comes to choosing dating partners and a mate. We will talk about one of these choices: Do you choose someone who already fits well into your life and helps you grow, or do you tend to choose people whom you have to work on changing?

Many singles openly admit that it initially feels better to be in any relationship than to be in no relationship at all. This is especially true when the sparks are flying. Read more…

Whatever happens in your relationship, you will eventually wind up with the same person you initially got together with, minus the extra behaviors of courting.

Why? Because many people simply do not change, but remain static in their behavior for a lifetime.

While others do change, it's almost never when their partners demand it or dictate it, but rather at their own chosen time and in their own chosen way. Read more…

How much emotional space do you occupy in your relationship? Could the amount of emotional space you and your partner each take up have anything to do with whether your relationship makes it or not? Indeed it does.

Just what do I mean by "emotional space"? It's the time and energy your partner spends dealing with or listening to your emotions, words, thoughts, wants, needs, etc. Read more…

Our culture has a misconception about how to connect with each other for successful, happy, intimate partnerships.

Singles tend to believe that mutual attraction is "the" way tostart a relationship. If strong mutual attraction is present,the misconception goes, then you are meant to be together andare perhaps even soul mates. And if you are indeed soul mates,then why not get started on your life together immediately? Starting your life together means spending as much time together as possible. Read more…