Have you ever wondered how differently things may have panned out in your life had you been able to predict the future? In the realm of relationships, many of us can agree our choices would have been radically different. For example, we may have dated a few people whom at one point seemed like our soulmate -- only to see that relationship crash and burn later on. Or, we wouldn't have accepted jobs at certain companies where we were forced to confront toxic bosses and gossipy co-workers. The same applies to friendships. Many of those we thought were our friends wound up stabbing us on the back. Hindsight is always 20/20 isn't it? But it's not healthful to cry over spilled milk. What's done is done, and we can only learn from such experiences. Unfortunately, we're not mind readers, so there's always the possibility that a person's true personality won't come out till later. Don't lament a relationship or friendship gone awry. Think of it th...

Unfortunately, being needy in a relationship is a surefire recipe for trouble. Neediness communicates to the other person in the relationship that you: Aren't happy on your own Depend on someone else to meet all your emotional needs Don't have enough hobbies to keep you entertained If you aren't happy on your own -- and need someone in your life to fill some void -- then you aren't ready for a relationship, plain and simple. Thus, a partner should enhance or complement your life, not "complete" it. For more great relationship advice and relationship advice, click below: Relationship Tips and Relationship Advice

If someone goads you into giving your personality a makeover for the sake of your relationship, then you're better off kicking him or her to the curb. Human beings come with a set of innate personality attributes, meaning that we've possessed them since the day we were born. If you've always been shy, introverted, silly, or intellectually-driven, for example, why should you be cajoled into changing the essence of your character? A person who pressures you into doing this is being inconsiderate and selfish. How would he like it if you put the same kind of pressure on him? It's important you remind him or her that although you value the relationship, it should not be contingent upon your changing any aspect of your personality. People should love and accept people as they come. If it's still too much for the other person to stomach, you're definitely in the wrong relationship.

As human beings, we like to seek advice from partners, friends, and relatives, especially when we're going through trying times or contemplating a life-changing decision -- like popping the big question or switching jobs. However, sometimes these well-meaning individuals give us misguided suggestions. They dispense advice that reflects what they would do in your situation or what they did when they've found themselves in similar situations -- not necessarily what they feel would be the right course of action for you . For example, let's say you've always dreamed of becoming a professor. Many people might try to dissuade you from breaking into higher education because: "that field is not known to pay well" "there are no professorial jobs" "there's too much bureaucracy" What annoys me most is that there's a good chance none of these individuals have ever even been professors themselves. It's one thing to say that, ...

I'll say Facebook relationships are not like real-life ones, and I'll tell you why. People act differently on Facebook than they do in face-to-face encounters because in the case of the former, there's an audience to take into account. Since others might see your posts (including your co-workers, family members, etc), you might be less inclined to post content that will be called into question or otherwise frowned upon. For example, my closest friend refers to me as his best friend when we're conversing over the phone, but calls me "one of his best friends" when posting messages on my Wall. Could it be he doesn't wish to draw the ire of other close buddies? Is it possible he calls different people his best friend and doesn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers? Your guess is as good as mine. I've also noticed people tend to be hypocritical on Facebook. Two friends may be on bad terms in "real life," but then you see them compliment...

In my last post, I pointed out that friendships can dwindle away when one person's goals and commitment are not aligned with those of the other person. Consequently, all you're really left with are fond memories of yesteryear. It's amazing how close you can be to someone one day and how estranged you can feel in his or her presence years later -- as if you'd never met. I'd bet this is especially the case for divorced parents who have to see each other during an event at their kid's school or ex-buddies whose friendship ended on a bad note. Now, this isn't to say that reconnecting and reverting back to better days is outside the realm of possibility, but it takes effort from both sides to make that happen.

Stop for a second and think about the friendships you've had over the years. Notice a common thread? You've probably been closer to some friends at certain points of your life and to other friends at different stages. Now, this doesn't mean you're no longer friends with them, but it's likely the friendships has fizzled out to some extent and now you view them more like acquaintances. A certain friend might have seemed right to us at a certain point in time -- but years later, that is no longer so. For example, I have a friend with whom I'd play basketball each and every Friday. You can only imagine how much the friendship changed once he had kids. I have another buddy I was very close to back when we were taking classes and working out together. Once we graduated, we seemed to have gone our own separate ways and our friendship hasn't been the same since. Friendships are always stronger when both people are in a similar life stage and share similar goals....

To be fair, not all work relationships are as such, but have you noticed many of our relationships with coworkers are rather superficial? In other words, the only reason why you interact with them is because you have no choice in the matter. I've realized this happens for a variety of reasons. It could be that we're at different life stages, our personalities don't exactly mesh well, or we never got around to building rapport with one another. Or, you've noticed they are just downright unpleasant to deal with and you want no part of that. Whenever possible, try to make the effort to build a good relationship with your coworkers -- even if you have to fake it just a little bit. This in no way means you should allow the person to step all over or otherwise disrespect you. As unfair as it sounds, it seems being successful at work nowadays depends less on your work and more on how likable you are.

Want a surefire way to wreck a relationship? Lying is one of them, let alone lying through your teeth! I've seen so many relationships (including some of mine) fall by the wayside due to dishonesty that I've honestly lost count. People have the false notion that little white lies never add up, but they most certainly do. Not that I'm advocating we keep a tally, but human beings can only take so many lies. Communication is essential to any healthy relationship. If, rather than being upfront from the get go, you feel compelled to lie to your friend or partner, it's time you reevaluated the relationship in question. People might forgive and forget a couple of times, but push them too far and you put the relationship in serious jeopardy. And lying as a form of retaliation is never good either, as two wrongs never make a right. Owning up to your mistakes is always preferable to dishonesty. Not only does it show integrity, but It demonstrates just how much you value t...