Let's face it – break ups are BAD, to say the least. There are no two ways about. I have quite a lot of really tough and smart guys who stick to a relationship just fearing the worse – a break up. And there are guys who are out of it physically, but still very much in it mentally. After all it’s a matter of the heart.

I was thinking the other day (No cracks from my friends please.) about the subtle differences between words that are commonly used, sometimes not used or mis-used. Let me give you an example. I'm sorry. This simple two word sentence can be interpreted so many ways and have so many different meanings for both the person who speaks them and the person who they are directed toward.

Tips for online dating success. How to develop your relationship online as well as offline by practicing patience, caring, understanding and TLC.

When we are children we do not yet have an identity. We learn about who we are through the mirroring that we get from our parents. It is called mirroring to describe the ability of good parents to gently hold up an imaginary mirror in front of the child until they learn to see themselves clearly without harsh judgments. If we do not get enough realistic mirroring during the years we live with them, we remain pretty clueless about who we really are.

I am not talking about the abusive bully or the man with a character flaw, who possesses no compassion, is beyond feeling and has no conscience. I am talking about the frustrated man who yells at this family, makes great demands on them, seems always angry and frustrated.

We can so easily judge ourselves, and our lovers, against some ideal. This usually relates back to our judgments on our parents. They are the key. If you can’t love your parents, you will not find love for yourself or your loved one. Unblocking love for one person is unblocking love for every person and no one affects this equation more than your parents.

This power struggle is a turn off. I have heard it many times from different men. Why do we always want to prove to men that we are smarter, tough, and independent? Why keep score?

Some people have a great relationship with a life partner. They have been happily married (or having been living with another) for quite some time; things are just perfect; and the living together flows like it travels on those fast trains: comfortably, efficiently, and bump-less.

For those who have been divorced or separated, it can be quite a difficult transition, especially if there are kids involved. However getting back into the dating scene doesn't have to be impossible or difficult. Of course do not jump onto the scene right after a separation, and do take your time until you feel you are ready again.

Recognize your own personal tipping points in a personal relationship and how to evaluate both positive and challenging relationships.

Developing a strong, stable, and successful relationship with a woman takes lots of hard work and time. It requires sacrifice and sometimes it can even cause a lot of pain. Yet, once you reach the pinnacle of success with a thriving, successful relationship you get to know and be with someone with whom you get to share a type of intimacy that very few ever get to truly experience. However, most relationships don't even make it out of the beginning stages because most people don't even have a good and healthy reason to be in a relationship let alone know what they are in a relationship for.

There you were, deeply involved in a relationship. It may have been stormy or you may have thought everything was running smoothly. Then it happened: Your significant other no longer wanted to be your significant other...

Is life getting in the way of your love and marriage? Make the time for a romantic getaway and fan your love flames.

Why are our relationships such a challenge? By their very nature, relationships always push us toward duality, toward the opposites. They take us into both the light of our souls and the darkness of our subconscious. They force us to look at the light and experience the shadows.

Rejection in love can sometimes even ruin future relationships. Here are some tips on how to overcome the 'jilted' phase...

When your world is filled with many wonderful opportunities, it can feel difficult if you feel you must choose between them, and it's equally rough if you have a hard time saying no to people. Yet saying yes to everything can lead to both over-commitment and resentment, which can erode your relationships, whether at work or home or in your community.

Discover what you don't know about the experiences you have had in your past relationships. Get clear on what you would like to experience and attract the love of your life in the process.

A housewarming gift comes from cultural traditions the world over. But for the most part, a housewarming gift comes from the heart, an act of giving from one friend to another. The true meaning of housewarming can be found when one friend sees the need of another, and tries in however small of measure to give something to help.

The lack of patienceis the cause of so much unhappiness and grief in this world, when all it requires is a little time on our part.

You can learn to cast a spell over anyone. The secrets are within your reach. All you need to do is to learn where to focus your energy and attention.

A second marriage can be challenging if you don’t know what you’re in for. Watch out for these pitfalls to increase your chance of a successful second marriage.

If people are giving you the cold shoulder or have clammed up and gone silent on you, there could be many things going on. Whatever it is, the silent person may be finding it hard to speak out and doesn't feel safe in doing so. When we grew up some of us only learnt to voice our displeasure by silent withdrawal. Here are some tips that I cannot guarantee will work with everyone, as each person and situation is different, however I have certainly found them helpful.

Is it possible to define what an ideal relationship is? In my view the key foundation stone must be the the issue of taking full personal responsibility for the fulfillment of one's own needs. This entails a recognition of one's role in creating one's entire life experience. Do you have the courage for this?

Yes, we Black men and women have some collective concerns, a certain amount of shared pathos , arising from our shared painful past which we are daily changing to a triumphant future - but we are each something more fundamental than a cog in a Great Black Cause. I am, like you - just me.