Blog Posts by BounceBack

Are YOU the common denominator in your bad relationships?
By Kelli Cooper for BounceBack.com

For the most part, we are often blind to the role we are playing in the problems in our lives, whether we are constantly facing financial struggle or finding ourselves in one bad relationship after another. We blame everything outside of ourselves for our less than desirable lot in life. We say we have bad luck. We go into victim mode.

Well, what I am about to say may sting a bit, but in reality, it is one of the most empowering ideas because it suggests you have complete control over cultivating exactly what you want in life, including healthy, loving romantic relationships. The only thing your bad relationships have in common is YOU! There is a reason that you keep finding yourself in bad relationships and it has nothing to do with the people you are meeting, fate or a cruel higher power. It has to do with you and you alone.

Related: When History Repeats Itself, Find Freedom From Old Patterns

On a conscious level, this idea is very

Making it Work With Opposite Schedules


















By James Lane for BounceBack.com

We all know that opposites attract, but do opposite schedules do the same? In this day and age, trying to date someone is hard, but trying to date someone with an opposite work schedule can seem almost impossible. How do we manage to maintain a relationship if our work schedules conflict?

Perhaps you work a 'normal' 9 to 5, Monday through Friday work week and your partner works only weekends, or night shifts. There doesn't seem like too much available time. Finding time to get to see each other could be really tough, but it also could be what your relationship needs, especially the first few months. Being busy and unavailable most of the week to your partner could really strengthen the bond the two of you have. Sure, it gets lonely, but it makes those times when you do spend a day or night together that much more special.

Leaving notes and cards behind for your significant other to find could be a way to have some sort of intimacy.

Living together can be awesome... and not-so-awesome
By Patia Braithwaite for BounceBack.com

I was in a long distance relationship for several years, and then, in an odd twist of fate, I was suddenly sharing my three bedroom apartment with two roommates, a cat, and my not-so-long-distance boyfriend. While this was only temporary (a few months), the phases that we went through were enough to drive anyone crazy.

Related: 6 Tips to Making Long Distance Relationships Work

Here are a few tips I picked up along the way:

1.The Honeymoon Stage (Everything you do is awesome):

During this stage, you are both tiptoeing around each other, pretending to be perfect roommates. Everything you touch is quickly returned to its rightful place; the bed is made every morning and breakfast is even had in bed (preferably picked off of each others' naked body). My advice: SAVOR THIS. This phase does not last forever, and you should enjoy it without expecting it to last.

Related: Complement or Compromise: Does Your Partner

Is your baggage getting in the way of a good relationship?
By Patia Braithwaite for BounceBack.com

On a recent trip to Tampa I left my carry-on luggage at the TSA check point, and I didn't notice until I was about to board the plane. Now, while some people might consider this a colossal mistake, I took it as a sign that maybe, just maybe, I over packed. If I can easily forget an entire bag, then perhaps I'm traveling with too much.

Related: Stop Trying to Be Perfect: Perfection is Not the Goal

I think this (crackpot) idea translates to relationships as well. Throughout our dating lives we fill broken hearts and battle scars with armor and defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms are commonly known as baggage. Sometimes these things protect us, but other times the stifle really great connections.

How do we know if our old baggage is getting in the way of our new relationships? Here are four ways to tell:

Are you comparing him/her to your ex?

If you are looking for flaws or pointing out the way that

Is Online Dating a Must-Do These Days?

















By Rosie Munger for BounceBack.com

"When I was doing online dating in 2003 or so, everybody thought I was nuts." Linda stated. "Ten years later, those same friends have met their spouses through OKCupid, Match.com, JDate, etc, and it seems that among my friends still in their 20s, it's kind of weird if you *haven't* at least tried online dating."

Times certainly have changed. At the turn of the century there was a stigma associated with online dating, yet these days it seems that single people who don't have an online profile are a rarity. Has it gone from being a dirty secret to something that is a given?

Related: Speed Kills...Romance: 3 Reasons Speed Dating is Bogus

Perhaps, but that does not mean it's the right dating avenue for everyone. Many people meet their mates, either temporary or lifelong, on online sites these days. Yet, for as many people as find love on the Internet, there are still those who just can't connect with the online process. Anna was

When is a nice guy enough?













By Rosie Munger for BounceBack.com

Amiable. Good-natured. Kind. Who wouldn't want to be with a guy who has these qualities? Unfortunately, there are many of us who still chase the elusive, fire-breathing dragons, only to have to figure out how to be a phoenix once the fire has been put out. At some point, the madness has to stop! So long to the "bad boys" and "Mr. Right Nows" - the time comes when we're ready for the "nice" guy. You're feeling bored already, aren't you? Yet, you're ready to settle down…

Related: Opposites Attract: But Should They?

Ladies, here's the catch, brought to us by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's "Into the Woods": "Nice is different than good." We've been looking for the wrong attribute all along. A "nice" person can still be dishonest or may not be ready to settle down. Moreover, any girl who's been in a sorority will tell you that "nice" means nothing - it lacks any real description, which is why it's banned from use during rush. So,

Are you and your ex really friends, or is someone wanting more?
By Erica Conte for BounceBack.com

There is no easy answer to the question of how to handle a friendship with someone you once dated, for all relationships are different, as are the partners involved. Sometimes the amicable breakups tend to have the most potential for friendship, whereas breakups over jealousy and dishonesty generally don't -- at least not for some time. However, whether you randomly bumped into your ex and felt comfortable or you decided to make the call on his/her birthday, taking the plunge into this friendship pool can only work if both partners are on the same page about what they want now.

Related: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire - 5 Tips for Dealing With Dishonesty

We've developed 5 thought-provoking ways to determine whether a friendship with an ex is the real deal or just a subconscious ploy to get back together.

1. You immediately want to be friends after breaking up.

One of the hardest things to realize after a breakup is that your partner is no

Is Your Significant Other Lying to You?
By Patia Braithwaite for BounceBack.com

Okay, before you point fingers and burn the guilty party's pants: did you know that most people tell lies every day? It's true, according to an article in the UK's Daily Mail, the average man tells six lies a day (that's twice as many as most ladies). Most of these lies are harmless, meant to avoid conflict or discomfort (for ourselves and others), but what happens if little white lies turn into big hairy ones?

Related: Is Your Relationship Worth Saving? 6 Signs It's Time to Let Go

If you suspect that lies are creeping into your relationship like unwanted weeds, here are a few things you can do:

1. Pick and Choose Your Battles:

If your honey has a habit of telling you she's fine when she's not, or your beau tells you that you're most beautiful when you are on your period, these lies may not be a huge cause for concern. Although dishonesty gives us valuable insight into one's character, remember not to be too self-righteous. We all