Dating Advice: 9 Mindsets Sabotaging Your Love Life
A new book helps you overcome potential dating pitfalls.
By dating editor Julie Leung for YourTango.com Photo: Getty Images Updated: Aug 5, 2009
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It's
easy to lose yourself over a man, but what if it
happens before you even meet him? Ill-fated past relationships may have
already warped your dating personality and consequently sabotaged your
future with someone else.
In her latest
book, "Ms. Typed: Discover Your True Dating Personality and Rewrite
Your Romantic Future," Dr. Michelle Callahan says she has the cure for
women whose dating characteristics no longer accurately reflect who
they truly are. The seasoned psychologist has formulated 9 dating
archetypes that women fall into after too many relationships gone
wrong:
1. Ms. Second
Place. The accommodating, eager-to-please dater who
eventually ends up playing second fiddle to her man's career, hobbies,
or even wife. This chronic "settler" has lost sight of her self-worth
after too many relationships in which she gives way to his needs every
time. As a result, she suffers from low confidence and low
expectations.
How she might have got
here: "Men you've dated may have tried to convince you that you should
go along with whatever they wanted, otherwise they wouldn't date
you."
2. Ms. Soul
Mate. She is the idealist after watching peers getting
hitched before her. Ms. Soul Mate dates as if every man could be "the
one," and is so determined to settle down, she insists on commitment
too soon. After a failed relationship, she is often struck with dread
that an ex might have been "the one."
How
she might have got here: "You grew up fantasizing about the day when
you would be able to start your own family. Then you could get the love
and affection you may have missed as a child, or you could finally be
the most important person in someone's life."
3.
Ms. Drama Queen. This woman loves a challenge, a
competition, and a dramatic fallout. She dates the wrong types of men
because she gets a high out of the hard times. Ms. Drama Queen is one
who doesn't mind going after a friend's man just to see if she can do
it. Afterwards, she feels embarrassed for having been "that woman,"
however.
How she might have got here:
"Some of the young men you dated were quick to argue or get physical,
and instead of turning you off, it turned you on."
4.
Ms. Bag Lady. An emotional rollercoaster, Ms. Bag Lady
hasn't sorted out her own personal issues before dumping it all on the
new relationship. Her poor relationships in the past lead her to
overreact to problems in the new one. She often feels depressed, unable
to trust, and unable to move on.
How she might have got here: "The men you've dated have been abusive or neglectful."
5.
Ms. Mom. She takes over her man's goals as if they
were her own, becoming his life coach, psychologist, and mother all in
one. She gives her all trying to improve him, but eventually neglects
her own needs. Ms. Mom gets depleted emotionally and sometimes
financially after her "project" has flown the coop.
How
she might have got here: "You were Ms. Mom around your house growing
up, being told (or offering) to do things for men in your house
(father, brothers, or another needy family member)."
6.
Ms. Anaconda. A dater who inadvertently suffocates the
men she's involved with. Paranoid that he will leave her, Ms. Anaconda
holds on too tight by checking up on a man too much, manipulating him,
and keeping him away from his friends. When he leaves, it just confirms
her suspicions and dooms the next relationship.
How
she might have got here: "You trusted the men you dated to spend time
apart from you, only to discover later that they were cheating on
you."
7. Ms.
Independent. After a particularly hurtful breakup, Ms.
Independent builds an emotional fortress in order to prevent any more
pain. Her now-cynical outlook causes her to miss the good qualities in
men she dates. Even though she would like to start over, she can't seem
to lower her guard enough to depend on anyone else but
herself.
How she might have got here:
"The men you dated were afraid to be intimate, and their defensive
behavior made you feel you should keep your distance."
8.
Ms. Rose-Colored Glasses. Ever the optimist, this
dater refuses to see a monster even if she's sleeping in bed with it.
She ignores red flags, friend's advice, even her own senses when it
comes to detecting trouble. As a result, she is susceptible to being
taken advantage of and cheated on.
How
she might have got here: "You dated a man who became very angry and
upset when you asked questions, and his reaction taught you to fear
asking men for more information."
9.
Ms. Perfect. A woman who strives for perfection in
every aspect of her life, right down to her man. Her standards are
impossibly high and men get turned off by her judgmental attitude and
meticulousness. She doesn't know how to relax, even on a date, and
comes off seeming cold.
How she might
have got here: "Your parents had very high standards, and you felt
pressure to be successful and a high achiever, otherwise you would be
criticized or punished."
Do any of the
types above resonate with you? Callahan's 244-page guide includes
specific advice on how to overcome each "Ms. Type." The book
concludes with "The Ms. Typed Makeover Kit," a section designed to help
one sketch out a game plan for a happier and healthier dating outlook.
A few general tips:
1. Create a support team of close friends who can be there for you during a transitional time.
2. Create a vision for your dream life; it will prevent you from settling.
3. List what's holding you back from that dream life and assume those things are false.
4. Gain closure by venting all your burdens out on paper. You can destroy the papers later.
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