Posts

Why You Keep Choosing Unavailable Partners (and How to Stop)

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Tired of attracting unavailable partners? Learn 5 powerful steps to recognize old patterns, heal, and open up to the love you deserve. — Have you ever wondered why you keep ending up with unavailable partners—people who can’t or won’t meet you where you are? It’s frustrating, even heartbreaking, when you know what you want, but keep choosing what doesn’t serve you. Please don’t blame yourself. We don’t consciously choose pain. We choose familiarity. As nervous system expert Sarah Baldwin says, “Your system likely doesn’t yet know the things you’re wanting are safe to have.” That’s why even when your rational mind longs for a healthy, present, loving partner, your body and subconscious may still be magnetized to chaos, criticism, or abandonment—because that’s what feels most familiar. You can break this cycle. It begins with awareness, compassion, and a willingness to rewrite the old story. I’m sharing five steps to help you stop dating unavailable partners and open yourself ...

Why Is Forgiveness Critical to Relationship Success?

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What is forgiveness, and why is it so important to relationship success? Find out in this episode with Leadership guru Dr. Tony Silard. — What is the importance of forgiving yourself and past partners? My podcast guest, Tony Silard, says that many relationships fail because we don’t practice forgiveness. He’s the author of Love and Suffering , and has coached political leaders, and he has lectured on leadership at Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, the University of California at Berkeley, George Washington University, Cal Poly Pomona, and ESADE Business School.  In this episode of Last First Date Radio: Why Forgiveness is critical to a successful relationship How not forgiving past relationships hinders our relationships How not forgiving creates a never ending cycle The first step in forgiving Why you must judge to forgive Tony Silard – Why Forgiveness is Critical to Relationship Success Why is forgiveness critical to a successful relationship? Forgiveness is to “gi...

Dating Multiple People? How to Build a Dating Funnel

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Tired of dead-end dates and endless swiping? A dating funnel could be your secret weapon to finding love—without losing your sanity. — Dating funnel might not sound romantic, but it’s one of the smartest ways to date in today’s world. Instead of dating one person at a time and hoping they’re “it,” a dating funnel allows you to meet, talk to, and go out with a few people at once—so you can discover who’s truly right for you without investing time, energy, and emotions too quickly. Think of it like a sales funnel, but instead of closing a deal, you’re opening your heart to the right person. I’ll show you how to do it—step by step. How to Build a Dating Funnel 1. Maximize Your Online Presence If you want to meet more people, you have to be where they are. Be everywhere: Use at least two or three dating apps—Match, Bumble, Hinge, or even Facebook Dating. Different platforms attract different kinds of people. Upgrade your profile: Invest in great photos and write a bio that’...

How Long Should You Wait for Him to Ask You Out? (5 Helpful Tips)

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Waiting for him to ask you out? How long should you wait? 5-step guide to knowing when to follow up—or move on. — You’ve had a great phone call, the conversation flowed easily, and you both agreed you’d like to meet in person. Now comes the tricky part—waiting for him to actually set up that first date. How long should you wait before following up? And what do you do if you don’t hear from him? Here are five smart tips to help you navigate this stage without overthinking or losing your cool. How Long Should You Wait for Him to Ask You Out? (5 Helpful Tips) 1. Don’t Overthink It The silence between “I’ll set something up” and the actual invite can feel endless, but try not to obsess. If he says he’ll set up a date this week, give him the benefit of the doubt. Rule him in until he rules himself out! Let a full week play out before jumping to conclusions. Remember: you’re looking for someone who communicates clearly, not someone who keeps you guessing. 2. At the End of the ...

Stop Second-Guessing Yourself in Dating: 5 Ways to Build Confidence

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If you’ve been second guessing yourself in dating, these tips will help you learn to trust your instincts and build confidence! — If you’ve ever walked away from a date replaying every word you said, wondering if you should’ve done something differently—you’re not alone. Dating can bring up a lot of self-doubt, but second-guessing yourself only keeps you stuck. The truth? You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to trust yourself. Here’s how to stop overthinking and start dating with confidence. 5 Ways to Stop Second-Guessing and Build Confidence 1. Recognize and Acknowledge Your Thoughts The first step is noticing when you’re spinning in circles. Pay attention to those “What if?” or “Maybe I shouldn’t have…” thoughts. Then ask yourself: Am I afraid of making a mistake, or am I just being hard on myself? Awareness is powerful—it helps you separate real concerns from unnecessary self-criticism. 2. Challenge Negative Thoughts Your brain loves to tell stories that aren’...

Dating Over 50? These 7 Habits Can Help You Find Real Love

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These 7 habits, based on the work of Stephen Covey, will help you become a better dater and find your best match. — Something unexpected happened recently—my son-in-law and I found ourselves deep in conversation about… dating. Not because he’s dating (he’s happily married to my daughter, thank you very much), but because he’s been reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. He’s seeing the world through new eyes, and watching someone get it for the first time is exhilarating. As we talked through Covey’s ideas, I realized something: every single one of these habits could be applied to dating. So, with deep respect (and a little artistic license), here’s my take on what Stephen Covey might say—if he were a dating coach. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Daters 1. Be Proactive You can keep blaming your parents’ marriage, your city’s dating pool, or the apps. Or you can take full ownership of your love life. Proactive daters don’t wait for the stars t...

How to Transform Love, Healing, and Human Connection

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My podcast guest, Cynthia Marks, discusses how to transform love, healing, and human connection. You don’t want to miss this! — If you want to transform love, healing and human connection, this episode is for you! Cynthia Marks is the host of And Now Love, a podcast inspired by the psychoanalytic teachings of her late husband, Dr. Bernard Bail. Through intimate conversations and dream exploration, she helps listeners uncover unconscious emotional imprints and transform their understanding of love, healing, and human connection. In this episode of Last First Date Radio: What inspired Cynthia to start her podcast, And Now Love , and what’s the core message behind it? What role do early maternal relationships play in shaping our capacity to love or trust a partner in midlife? Cynthia’s healing journey where one of her husband’s teachings shifted her view on love What does a “healthy love” look like, and what practical steps can someone take to move toward that kind of love, eve...