by heartsdesireintl | Jul 1, 2013 | Dating, HDI Blog, Heart's Desire International, Intimacy, Love, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship Advice
by Gladys Diaz
Yesterday I attended Social Media Day Miami, an amazing event organized by a group of community volunteers who believe in the power of social media for connecting, sharing your message, making a difference, and building your business. Many of the organizers belong to the Social Media Club of South Florida, the group that the set the 30-Day Blogging Challenge in which I’ve been participating.
I attended the event to learn how I can continue to use social media to connect with women from around the world who are interested in not only attracting a good man into their lives, but building an extraordinary relationship that lasts for a lifetime. Surprisingly, however, some of the best lessons I learned had nothing to do with social media.
They didn’t even take place during the sessions. They happened spontaneously in the hallways talking with some of the men who attended the event.
They were lessons about how men feel about being married; how they see their roles as fathers; and how, when a man is really interested in a woman, there is nothing that he’ll let get in the way of being with her.
Lesson #1: Men Love Being Happily Married
The first teachable moment occurred as I was on my way to a session. I happened to stop to say hello to a very good friend of mine who just happened to be talking about me to two young men and a lady. She was telling them about how the coaching she’d received from me and Heart’s Desire International had helped her get in touch with her feminine energy and attract an incredibly wonderful man into her life!
I was so surprised to see how excited the two guys were about the work that I do. They wanted to know more about it, and then Lesson #1 came. One of the men said, “You know what I didn’t know. That when you get married (pointing at his wedding ring), it just gets better!”
This is why, when I introduce myself as a dating and relationship coach, and a woman quickly (and, sometimes nervously) says, “Oh, I’m happily married!” – as in: “I don’t need your business card. Nothing’s wrong here! Thank you!”) – I tell her “That’s great! Here’s my card! I also specialize in teaching women how to keep the love and passion alive in their relationships so that they can stay happily married for a lifetime!”
It was great to hear a man speak so excitedly about love and relationships, and even more heartwarming to hear him speak about being married as the best thing that ever happened to him. That, ladies, is one of the best compliments a woman can ever get!
Lesson #2: Men Take Their Roles as Fathers Seriously
As another friend and I were talking to two other men later in the day, the conversation turned to marriage and parenting (I can’t help it! I’m a magnet for these conversations!)
It was absolutely inspiring when the men began talking about their children and how they see their roles as fathers. One of the men shared how, he’s not so concerned about his kids getting a good job and succeeding. He said that those things will fall in place. Instead, he said he wants them to become “good people.” He wants them to honor God and just be good people. And the passion with which he spoke let you know just how committed he was to being the role model for them to follow.
The other man shared how for him it’s important that his kids be open to all different types of people. He and his wife come from completely different cultural backgrounds, and he wants his children to be exposed to as many cultures, foods, and experiences as possible. He told us how every weekend he and his family spend time with other families from different backgrounds, eating cultural foods, and just learning about one another. He, too, was passionate as he spoke, and it was so great to see a man taking on that role of leader and teacher in his family. And, for the second time that day, I heard a man say that being married and having a family were the best things that had ever happened to him!
Both these men left me inspired. Not because this is something that is rare. There are billions of other dads out there who are just as loving, committed to their families, and who take their responsibility as fathers seriously. What inspired me was how willing they were to be so open and vulnerable and the pride with which they spoke of their children at a business event. I was really moved and said a prayer of thanks for my own husband who had stayed home with our kids so that I could attend the event!
Lesson #3: When a Man is Really Interested in You, He Won’t Let Anything Stand in His Way
One of the two men who was sharing about his role as a father, also shared the story of how he and his wife met and got together. (I told you – I’m a magnet for these types of stories!)
He told us how, after feeling some attraction to her, he organized a business event halfway across the country, just so that he could see her. Then, when she mentioned she’d be bringing a male friend to their first lunch, he assumed it was her boyfriend, and begged his business partner to go with him so that it wouldn’t be too awkward. She never did bring the other man to the lunch (and he ended up being just a friend), but he’d already made up a story in his head that she wasn’t interested. He shared how he felt so foolish for having thought that there would be anything between them and how he came home feeling like the trip had been a waste of time.
A few weeks later, when she was flown in to his city by her company, he told us how he felt he had to rent a car because his was so beaten up and he didn’t want her to see it. (He also told the hilarious story of how he tried to get the rental car key chain off to no avail and how he had to drive while trying to hide it!).
He took a lot of heat from his business partner for planning a business event in another city, taking someone with him on that trip, and now wanting to spend more company money on a rental car – all for a woman! But this man had a feeling. Not a guarantee. Not a solid sign from the universe. He just had a feeling that this woman was worth his efforts. And he was willing to do what he could to see if maybe there was something there for her, too.
The sweetest part of the story was when he told about the moment where he knew there was something between them. She reached out for his hand to let him smell the body lotion she was trying on her hand, and he that when she touched his hand, he felt something and he just knew. (How romantic is that!?!)
He shared how they went through the challenges of a long-distance relationship, had their ups and downs, and even broke up during the course of their relationship. But today, they are together and happily married with four children!
What was fascinating to me and my friend was how this man, who knew there were no guarantees about actually getting together with this woman was willing to do what he could to be with her. And the best part was that the woman in this love story didn’t have to do anything. She was just being herself. She didn’t have to say or do anything to get him to like her. He was attracted to her and who she was, and he figured out a way to be with her.
That’s why being your most natural, feminine self is one of the best ways to attract really great men into your life. Smile, flirt, and let who you are shine through. That’s how the man who is already looking for you will be able to recognize you so that he can walk across the room (or fly across the country) to come speak to you! That’s also why, if you are single and you haven’t already signed up for the “Meet Mr. Right-for-You” Video Training Series, I invite you to do that now! In this 3-part video series, you’ll learn more about how to meet more great men, have more fun while dating, and move past the excuses that are stopping you from having the love story your heart desires!
And, if you’re married or in a relationship, stay tuned, because your video series on how to create a love that lasts for a lifetime is coming soon! Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter list so that you can hear about when that series is released!
The Social Media Day Miami event was a huge success, both in and outside of the sessions! From the presenters, I left with some really great ideas on how to use social media to build my brand, reach more hearts, and make a bigger difference in the world. I was able to connect with new people and reconnect with friends I’ve grown to love (many of which our friendships began or have grown thanks to social media). And, in the hallways, I got a peek into the hearts of three men who were more than happy to share the love they have for their wives and families.
Yep! To me, that made for an incredibly successful day!
Comments? Questions? Let us know below! We love hearing from you!
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
by heartsdesireintl | Jun 28, 2013 | Dating, HDI Blog, Heart's Desire International, Love, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship Advice
by Gladys Diaz
I recently ended a relationship with a man that after almost two years of dating I realized was not in partnership. As much as I wanted the relationship to work out, I saw qualities in him that would not make him a good husband. I see where I could have ended this relationship sooner, but because of my age (I am 40 years old), I wanted to give it my all because I really wanted to be married and have a family. I am now glad I ended it, because I know I wouldn’t have been happy married to him. However, I now find myself at 40 years old wanting children and single. I don’t know if I want to invest another 1-2 years in another relationship and then, if it doesn’t work, out find myself unable to have children. I have looked into freezing my eggs but there is no 100% certainty that the eggs will be viable years from now. I have also looked into sperm donors. Adoption is not out of the question, but I would really like to have a child of my own. What would you advise someone like me?
Thanks for being so vulnerable and sharing this with us. Wanting to have children is one of the first responses I get when I ask a woman what it is that she wants to experience in a relationship. As a mother, I can completely understand why women want to experience this in their lives, and I wish this sort of joy on everyone! However, as you well point out in your email, being in a happy relationship and being a mother are two completely different things.
In today’s day and age, it’s become easier for women to have children, whether or not they are in a relationship. However, too many children are born into unhappy marriages, and, since you reached out to me and I’m a relationship expert and not a fertility expert, I’d like to focus on the relationship side of your question, first.
You mentioned how you probably stayed in the relationship a little longer than you could have, but chose to stay because of your age and wanting to be married and have a family. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I completely agree with honoring your desire to be married and that I fully believe that it’s possible for every woman to be in a happy, loving relationship that lasts for a lifetime. So, I acknowledge you for trying to work things out.
However, it’s also important that you acknowledge why you really chose to stay. On the surface, it may seem that it was out of the desire to marry and have a family with him. But if there were signs way before you left indicating that you probably would not have had a happy marriage with him, then there’s probably another reason – a deep-seeded fear – that may have had you stay.
What are some of the reasons that might have a woman choose to stay in a relationship with someone who may not be right for her?
- Not being sure of what you want in a relationship: You’ve heard us say this before in our blog and at our events: If you’re not crystal-clear about what you want, you will settle for what you think you can get. Settling for less than what you want and deserve does not honor the beauty and wonder of who you are, nor will it allow you to ever feel truly fulfilled in a relationship. When you get clear about what you want in a relationship, then you are able to see what does and doesn’t align with that.
- Fear of not being loved: The fear of being alone is only out-ranked by the fear of not being loved. The fear of not having someone in our lives who will love and accept us exactly the way we are and the way we are not can drive us, again, to settle for less than what is possible for us in love and relationships. The truth is that you are already naturally love-able – able to love and be loved. The fact that you have not yet attracted the man with whom you’ll spend your life does not indicate that it will never happen. Believe that experiencing true love is possible for you!
- Fear of taking a risk: I know it can be scary to get out there and start over again. However, if what you want is to be in a happy loving marriage where you can then start creating a happy family, it’s going to take the courage and willingness to put your heart out there again. This time, however, really be clear about what you want to experience so that you don’t spend 1-2 years trying to make something work that is not leading to the kind of relationship you want to experience. Take some time to get to know different men, and, if you’re not having the experience of being happy, loved, and cherished, then have the courage to walk away and make room for the man who is willing to create that family and relationship with you.
Bringing a child into an unhappy marriage is not only unfair to the child, but it dishonors you and the love you are worthy of. So, yes, look into all of your options for having a child and choose the one that works best for you. And, if what you want to experience motherhood within a happy relationship where the two of you can be partners in life, love, and parenting, then get clear about what you want, remember that you are love-able, and be willing to take the risk to open up your heart and love again!
Comments? Questions? Let us know below! We love hearing from you!
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
by heartsdesireintl | Jun 27, 2013 | Dating, HDI Blog, Heart's Desire International, heartache, Infidelity, Love, Marriage, Relationship Advice
by Gladys Diaz
How do we know what we are looking for in a relationship? Especially me, who had short lived relationship of 3 ½ months, how do I change? I know everyone tells me that it’s not me but it’s hard to believe it’s not me. They tell me I shouldn’t change for someone but I would think I would have to, because if I couldn’t make this short relationship work for only 3.5 months how will I ever have a lasting long term one?
The last serious relationship I had before this short one was over ten years ago and I caught him cheating and after that I just concentrated on my son getting him through high school and college so now I need to figure how to live and find someone I can offer something to God willing?
I can hear that you are frustrated and that you really do want to be in a relationship. I also hear that you’re not exactly sure what it is that you want to experience in a relationship.
I agree with your friends that you shouldn’t have to change who you are in order for someone to love you, because you – the essence of who you are – is who you want someone to fall in love with.
There are, however, thoughts, behaviors, and patterns that don’t serve us or stop us from having what it is that we want to experience, that we may need to change. The first step, however, is to address the question at the beginning of your email: How do we know what we are looking for in a relationship?
You mention having had your heart broken twice – once as a result of a betrayal, and the other after your last relationship. Having your heart broken is never easy, and it can seem even more painful when the heartache is due to someone betraying the trust we placed in them. I’ve also found that it’s not uncommon for women to focus on other things – their children, their careers, their hobbies and interests – as a way to avoid the possibility of having to experience that sort of heartache again.
The problem is that, if what your heart truly desires is to be in a relationship, even if you find pleasure and satisfaction in the other things you are focusing on, part of you may always feel unfulfilled, because you are not honoring that desire. The only way to truly feel fulfilled is to honor our truth and to be willing to take a risk – yes, even one that involves potential heartache – in order to experience what we truly want.
You ask how you can truly know what you want in a relationship. Many times, women will begin to list what it is they want to find in a man or the type of man with whom they want to be in a relationship. However, the love and happiness we seek will never be found in another person. That’s way too much responsibility and pressure to put on another human being who is already dealing with being responsible for his own happiness. Instead, what you want to focus on is how you want to feel within that relationship. What is the type of experience you’d like to have?
When you think about or envision yourself being in a “happy relationship,” what does that mean?
What does it feel like? What are the emotions you feel that let you know that you know that you know that this is it?
What does it look like? How do you relate to one another? What are the things you do that let both of you know that you are exactly where you’ve always dreamed you’d be inside of a relationship?
What does it sound like? What are the words that you speak and say to one another? How do you speak to one another? What’s the experience of speaking and being heard by one another like?
Really try to envision yourself in the type of relationship you dream of being in.
If you’re still not sure of what that dream relationship would be like, picture couples who you consider to be happy together. What do you notice when you observe them? What makes it seem like theirs is a good relationship?
Don’t rush to answer. Give it some thought. Many of us have not asked ourselves these types of questions, because we’re so focused on meeting him and on how he needs to look, be, and act that we don’t always think about what it is we’d like to create with him – whoever he is – once we attract him into our lives.
So, take your time, allow yourself to dream big, and then begin to live and be the qualities you’d like to see in your dream relationship so that you can attract someone who also wants to create that with you!
Comments? Questions? Let us know below! We love hearing from you!
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
by heartsdesireintl | Jun 26, 2013 | breakups, Communication, Dating, HDI Blog, Heart's Desire International, heartache, Infidelity, Love, Relationship Advice
by Gladys Diaz
For the past four weeks, I’ve been in a relationship with a guy who acted so serious and told me to stop seeing other guys. He would get mad if he came to my house and I was not around. Two days ago, I checked his phone and found out a girl is presently pregnant by him. I asked him to explain and he said he couldn’t and started blaming me for touching his phone, so I left. He hasn’t called me since I left his house. I won’t call him again, but do you think I did the right thing?
The first thing that popped into my head when I read your email was “What had you want to check his phone?” Could it have been your intuition?
In working with women, I often hear that they feel that they can’t trust their intuition, because “it’s broken.” They refer to examples of times when they were suddenly surprised by infidelity or discovering an addiction or physically abusive tendencies in their boyfriends or husbands, or realizing that they guy just wasn’t the right man for them. Upon speaking with the women a little more at length, we discover that many of the signs had been there all along. They just chose to ignore the red flags so that they wouldn’t have to make the choice to leave. Usually, the choice to ignore red flags and alarms that may be going off is based on fear and not wanting to recognize that the relationship is not really what we want, so that we don’t have to make the choice to walk away.
Here are some questions I invite you to ask yourself so that you can have more clarity about what happened and what it is that you want, moving forward:
- You mentioned that you’ve been in a relationship with this man for four weeks. How long did you date him before you chose to become exclusive?
- Did you give yourself an opportunity to get to know him well before choosing to stop seeing other men?
- How did it make you feel when he got angry if you weren’t home? Did you feel safe? …afraid? Did you take it as a positive sign?
- And, finally, do you want him to call you back knowing that he is about to have a baby with someone else and did not tell you about it? If so, why is that?
There’s nothing “wrong” with him having a baby with someone else if they are no longer together. I think that may have you feeling upset is that he did not tell you about this. Another question you may want to ask yourself is whether a new baby being in the picture is something you feel you are ready and willing to deal with to deal with so this early in a relationship?
You ask whether I think that you did the right thing. If you’re referring to looking through his phone, I have to say “no,” because that was not respectful of his privacy. However, I think the bigger question is why you felt compelled to look through his phone in the first place. That may give you the answer that will make the biggest difference for you, moving forward.
If you’re referring to whether or not you made a good choice by leaving and not calling him back, I do believe that those were good choices you made if you felt unsafe in any way or if the conversation was turning into an argument. Sometimes, it’s best to walk away and take some time to gain clarity about how you feel and what it is you want so that you can make a choice that empowers you and is aligned with what your heart desires.
I invite you to the time to ask yourself the questions above so that you can get the closure you want for yourself. And, of course, free to reach out to me if you’d like some additional support in working through this.
Comments? Questions? Let us know below! We love hearing from you!
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by heartsdesireintl | Jun 24, 2013 | Dating, HDI Blog, Heart's Desire International, heartache, Loss of a Spouse, Love, Marriage, Relationship Advice, Romance
by Gladys Diaz
My wonderful, sexy, amazingly funny, husband died last year from heart complications following open heart surgery. He was in the hospital for the last three months of his life. When do you know to give your heart to that someone, especially if you have been grieving for almost a year? If, he says “I love you,” how do you tell him not to say that to you for a while, and how to say it without hurting his feelings?
First, I am so sorry for your loss. Having been widowed myself, I know that there are so many mixed feelings that come with having lost the man you loved and considering when it’s time to begin moving forward again.
I remember feeling like part of me died with my late husband. All of the dreams and plans we’d made for our future were no longer possible once he was gone. I felt lost, afraid, and seriously wondered whether I would ever find that kind of happiness again with another person. Part of me wanted to move forward and allow myself to feel happiness again. Part of me was angry and upset, wondering why this had happened to me at such a young age. And another part of me wondered if I’d have to just settle for someone who made me feel “kind of happy,” “sort of loved,” and “somewhat ready” to move forward.
I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t feel 100% ready to fall in-love with someone new when I met Ric. I was still grieving. There were more better days than when my husband first passed away, but there were also still some days where the sadness and loneliness overwhelmed me. I wasn’t looking to find someone new, but I was willing to open up to the idea of at least feeling some happiness again.
When I did meet and started going out with my husband, I felt a little guilty about feeling so happy again, and I was also terrified that I’d have my heart broken. I wanted to know how things were going to turn out before I invested my heart. I also wasn’t sure how to respond to the love that he was so openly sending my way.
I decided one day that I could be scared and uncertain and still allow myself the permission to be happy and see where things would go with him.
He shared his love for me first, and I remember thinking, “I really thought I’d never hear those words again, and here they are!” And when I shared my love for him, I remember thinking, “I never thought I’d feel this way or speak those words again, and here I am!” It was a wonderful, amazing feeling to know that it was actually possible for me to receive and give love and to feel happiness again.
You ask when you should give your heart to someone new. The truth is that only you will know when you are willing to do that. You may not feel “ready,” but if you feel willing to do it – to take a chance and give yourself to permission to feel joy and love again – then it’s going to take some courage, but you can do it. You just have to let yourself open up and let that love in.
You also ask how to tell him not to say that he loves you for a while without hurting his feelings. I don’t think it’s fair to him to tell him what he should or shouldn’t do. You can, however, tell him what you’d prefer. Let him know how it makes you feel when he says that he loves you, thank him for his love and how it makes you feel to be loved, and let him know that you need a little more time before you feel ready to respond. That way, you’re acknowledging his feelings for you and letting him know that this is about you not feeling ready to respond in kind, rather than telling him how he should feel or what he should or shouldn’t say.
And I invite you to just spend a little time with you, asking yourself how you feel about him. Acknowledge any fears that may be standing in your way and blocking you from allowing yourself to give or receive love from this man. Are you willing to give yourself permission to live and love again?
Remind yourself that giving yourself permission to laugh, love, and live again do not in any way diminish or discredit the love you and your husband shared. It’s just a new season in your life. And, if the man you are seeing now is a good man who gives you the experience of feeling loved, cherished, and cared for, then why would you deny yourself those feelings?
You have an opportunity to experience love more than once in a lifetime! I invite you to allow for the possibility that your happiness honors the love you and your husband shared as well as honoring your own desires to live life having the experience of loving and being loved!
Comments? Questions? Let us know below! We love hearing from you!
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
by heartsdesireintl | Jun 23, 2013 | Dating, HDI Blog, Heart's Desire International, Love, Relationship Advice
by Gladys Diaz
Firstly, thank you for giving your time to answer many people’s personal questions.
My question is regarding “long distance dating.” I met a great guy about 6 weeks ago in my home town while he was here for a family event. I haven’t met anyone and felt such chemistry as I did with him in a long while. And he expressed feeling the same towards me.
Since then, we have kept in contact via email. He sends me the loveliest emails, asking me in-depth questions about my interests, family etc. and shares his own stories with me. He has even described the date he wishes to take me on, which would require him having to fly to my city and take me out here. He is finishing his degree at the moment, and he’s just picked up a full-time job in order to fund such a date, which is definitely a step in the right direction. So, no problems as of yet.
My question is though: What advice would you give to someone like me, that’s trying to get to know someone via email? How do you keep the interest going, with the aim of getting a face-to-face date priority?
First of all, congratulations on meeting what sounds like a really nice guy! He seems to be showing interest in getting to know you, and the fact that he’s mentioned that he wants to fly out and take you on a date is very sweet!
My first question would be to ask whether you are seeing or going out with anyone else. Although you are both taking the time to get to know one another, unless he’s asked you if you’d like to date exclusively or be his girlfriend, this phase would be just about getting to know one another better. Seeing other people will help you to avoid getting too attached to him before you’re actually in a relationship, while also keeping open the possibilities of meeting another wonderful man! That’s the beauty of dating: That we get to know lots of wonderful men and then choose the one we’d like to spend more time with (maybe even a lifetime!).
I hear you saying that most of the communications you have are via email. Some practical tips would be to also have some conversations on the phone or via Facetime, Skype, or another way that you can video chat. At least this way you are able to hear and see one another as you interact. While it may not be the same thing as spending time with one another in person, you’ll have the opportunity to observe and respond to each other’s facial expressions and see each other smile! This can make the interactions seem much more personal than email.
Regarding how to continue getting to know him and keep the interest going, just keep being who you’ve been being. He’s obviously showing interest in you and he’s taking the necessary steps to see you. Don’t think that you need to “do” anything to keep him interested. Who you are is more than enough, and, if you allow the relationship to unfold naturally, at its own pace, then you won’t have to worry about whether it was because you forced it. Instead, you’ll know that it progressed naturally and that he’s with you because he wants to be, not because of anything that you did or didn’t do to try to keep him interested in you.
I can tell you like him and want to spend more time with him. If he really does plan and carry out that face-to-face date, it is going to be a much sweeter and romantic experience if you just leave things up to him and let him be the one figuring out what he needs to do to see and spend time with you!
So, definitely keep getting to know him. Long-distance dating does have its unique set of challenges because you don’t get to spend as much in-person time together. However, I have several clients who are very happily engaged or married to men who were willing to move across the country and even to an entirely new country in order to be with them! So I know it can lead to lasting love!
If this relationship is meant to be, it will be. But, in the meantime – until it is actually a relationship – be open to seeing and getting to know other men so that you can be sure about who it is that you want to choose to be Mr. Right-for-You!
Questions? Comments? Let us know below! We love hearing from you!
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
