Dating After Divorce: Asking for What You Want

Dating After Divorce: Asking for What You Want

In a previous post, I shared that one of my clients had asked me, “Why is it so difficult to ask my partner for what I truly want, especially when it comes to our relationship?” This was such a great question and one that continues to arrive at my mediation door often. This topic is so important and something I'm very passionate about. I’ve updated my response and hope you find it even more valuable.

Asking for what you want has far more risks and rewards that just getting, or perhaps not getting, your request granted. Many of us think that we don’t even need to bother asking for what we want, because at the end of the day you believe it doesn’t matter…it bears no consequence one way or another. Perhaps you find yourself saying, "It’s no big deal," "Oh I probably won’t get it anyway," or "I will just do it myself!" Sound familiar?

Here is where I want you to picture me on a roof top shouting:

"It So Matters!"

Dating After Divorce: Tips for Enjoying Your Dating Journey

Dating After Divorce: Tips for Enjoying Your Dating Journey

I found myself shaking my head in disbelief…as I said gruffly, “This date is OVER!” 

I promptly took his hand, and threw it down while my other hand pushed his body back!

I didn’t want to pay for online dating just yet, in case I ended up not liking it. I didn’t screen interested daters very well, I didn’t talk with this guy on the phone first, but thank God I had the sense to meet him in a public place!

The guy presented himself as this millionaire jet-setter through email. (It is embarrassing to write this)…what a sucker I was! We met at a very exclusive hotel bar in downtown Salt Lake City. 

For the evening, I had chosen a tighter fitting sweater dress complete with tights and high heels…I was feeling pretty good about my presentation.  

Dating After Divorce: What If I Choose Wrong Again?

Dating After Divorce: What If I Choose Wrong Again?

When we decided to step back into the dating world, we come face to face with our greatest fear of all…

WHAT IF WE CHOOSE WRONG AGAIN?!   

This fear kept me single for more than 15 years and had me swear off marriage just to make sure I was never trapped with the wrong person again!

Fear was running my relationship show!

To make matters worse, I could not find good advice on how I could make a right choice.  

The common advice I would receive was some version of: “You will know,” or “You will figure it out…”

Dating After Divorce: How Do I Know When I’m Ready?

Dating After Divorce: How Do I Know When I’m Ready?

We’ve all heard it before: “Get back in the game…you have to put yourself out there!” or “I have a friend of a friend I can set you up with!”

Divorce brings out the relationship experts and matchmakers. Anyone and everyone from your neighbor, colleague, friend or family member will likely offer you (oftentimes unsolicited) “expert” advice as to how and when you should start dating again. I bet you had no idea that you had so many love gurus around you!

Let me start by reminding you to follow your gut, NOT the calendar!

If you type “How long should I wait to start dating after divorce?” into Google, you’ll be slammed with opinions left and right and it can be confusing.  

I’m here to tell you to: