Despite what romantic movies, TV shows, and books tell you, love isn’t something that simply happens. It is a work of art created by you. Really. Finding love is less about meeting the right person and more about acquiring the habits of what I call a super-attacher. People with good relationship skills and healthy attachment behavior, who believe they are lovable, are the ones suddenly finding love, as singles often perceive it.
So how can you begin to learn healthy attachment behaviors and find the relationship you want and deserve? It all starts with understanding what attachment style is and how it affects relationships.
Each of us comes into the world with a biological predisposition to attach to people in a certain way ? some babies require more closeness and care than others. During the crucial first year of life, when our brains triple in size, we start to form a hardwired blue print for love based on how our caregivers respond to our needs. Then, in our adult romantic life, we attempt to replicate that version of love, even if, believe it or not, it was filled with feelings of loss or pain. Trying to replicate that love is what causes millions of singles to seek out help from coupled up friends, speed dating events, dating advice articles, and reviews of dating sites from places like DatingAdvice.com. Once we find our preferred venue for replicating that love, attachment style is the invisible force that prompts us to swipe right on someone we like or say hello to a stranger we find attractive. Attachment style is also the invisible force that determines whether or not we get into roller-coaster relationships with extreme highs and lows or not.
At the top of the mating heap are super-attachers. These people have whats known as a secure attachment style. Secure people tend to have high self-esteem. They are comfortable sharing feelings with friends and lovers. When they are suffering, they seek out social support. They take responsibility for their actions and are known for having a lot of empathy. Best of all, they have trusting, lasting relationships.
If you dont exactly fit the profile of a super-attacher, there are three simple things you can do that should help transform your dating life:
- Give Care Without Having Strings Attached
Yes, be an authentic nice guy or nice gal, not one whose kindness comes from fear that someone will bolt or who uses a manipulative tactic to get someone to like them. Instead, be kind, expecting nothing in return except your own sense of high self-esteem. Enjoy the ego boost. Love just for the sake of loving and youll like yourself better.
- Receive Care Happily
The next time you are feeling under the weather or under a lot of stress, call in for backup. Reach out to friends and family members. I know this can be very hard for some people, but learning to have interdependent social support is great practice for one-on-one love. Let the people in your life know what you need and allow them to take care of you.
- Dont Take Anything Personally
If you often get emotionally hijacked by sudden feelings of abandonment or rejection, I have four words for you:?Its never about you.?There is always another side to every story, and trust me, people are more concerned with their own stuff than yours. So take a deep breath, and use every feeling of rejection as an opportunity to practice self-consoling. Remember, its never personal.
Learning to have healthy attachments is the key to having a long and happy relationship ? and life in general. Because when you love better, you live better. By the way, if you are curious about what kind of attachment style you have, you can?take the quiz here.
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I am 58 yr old man, single for 3yrs now. Married once in my early 20’s, one child lasted 11 years. Then I left the marriage because I felt unfulfilled? I had my own home, new car, baby boy, plus a loving wife. But I felt empty. I then dated many women but no love just sex. I did meet someone and fell in love and stayed with her for about 20 yrs. It was the first time I really felt love for someone and also felt loved in return. It was amazing! In every aspect, happy, sad, mad, all of it! Just incredible! I have had many women walk through my life and I have great memories, but I think that that one will be my last! She was the love of my life and I was hers. But I had to let her go. Some of us just are better off alone!
It’s never personal??? Sounds like the line from the Godfather. When someone you thought loved you dumps you like a wet dishrag and ghosts you, you bet it’s PERSONAL!!
The things that you list is hard to do. But it really can help the relationship with someone.
gustavo woltmann
I love this post. I have been conscientiously working on trying not to keep tabs when giving and it definitely takes effort. But the rewards seem to be a much happier relationship thus far with less time stressing over the small stuff.