Leave relationships in which you feel replaceable

Have you ever had a friend or partner who's made you feel replaceable?

In other words, the other person may have a slew of friends or several people vying for their romantic affections, making you feel as though you're just a number on their list.

This doesn't make us feel special or appreciated, no matter how many times -- and how emphatically -- they may claim to value us.

We might crave more intimacy with this individual, but their tendency to hop from one person to another may create an emotional void.

You might feel far more invested and committed because you have a smaller circle of people in your life. Perhaps you've done this deliberately in an effort to cut down on the drama and prioritize quality over quantity.

It's saddening when people take us for granted because they know they have other options.

Perhaps you've suggested a relaxing evening at home dining over a good movie, but someone else has suggested plans more to their liking.

Maybe you've hinted at wanting to take your relationship to the next level, but he or she signals that commitment is the farthest thing from their mind right now. They wish to continue dating different people.

It can be greatly dispiriting when you feel like you're competing with other people for this person's time and attention.

They may go weeks or months without returning your calls or texts, and yet they're posting pictures of recent outings they never even told you about on Facebook.

Life isn't a popularity contest, but these people fail to understand that. They're obviously drawn to breadth rather than depth when it comes to their friendships/relationships.

If you want something more substantive where the individual commits to putting you first, you may have to look elsewhere.

Some people couldn't care less about deepening their relationships. As long as they have a different person to talk or go out with every week, they're good to go.

Never settle for a friend or partner who asserts that they're committed to you, but never seems to show it. Two people can't achieve a strong, enduring bond unless they each demonstrate loyalty.

The truth is that some people don't mind maintaining superficial relationships and friendships if it means they can have more of them.

Chances are, one day they'll realize they've lost a great deal of people over the years because they failed to see their worth. Maybe then they will pare down the number of friends in their lives or actually commit to only one individual.

You deserve to allocate your time toward people who actually cherish it. The longer you remain around people who remember you exist when plans fall through with their countless other friends or dates, the more hurt and disappointed you'll be.

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

Men prefer to marry brunettes

Study after study shows that men prefer blondes as girlfriends or mistresses and brunettes as wives . It seems many men see brunettes as more trustworthy and loyal. What's more, even though participants claimed that blondes are better in bed, they feel brunettes are better kissers and more affectionate than blondes. I find these results to be rather interesting. In my high school and early college days, I actually had a preference for blondes myself -- that is, until I hooked up with my now-wife. From that point on, I deemed brunettes as more attractive and marriage material, probably because they reminded me of and more closely resembled her. I think we can blame Hollywood, shows like Baywatch, and Playboy for painting blondes as wild, big chested, promiscuous and loose. (Yes, I know that there are brunettes in Playboy, but they seem to be in the minority.) When someone tells a man to think of an attractive blonde, who do you think likely crosses his mind? More likely than...

How to Read People

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