26 October, 2007

7 love rules you need to break

Just because you’ve always done something one way doesn’t mean it’s the right way. Remember how much your life improved when you finally gave up super-low-rise jeans, dating only bad boys, and dial-up modems? Relationship experts say that ditching the following seven love rules can be just as liberating — maybe more.

Old rule: Don’t be a jealous girlfriend
“A lot of women think they’ll seem neurotic and needy if they act jealously,” says Susan Piver, author of “How Not to Be Afraid of Your Own Life.” So when, say, a chick flirts with their man, many women may decide just to grit their teeth and play it cool to prove how secure they are.

New rule: Act a little territorial
A couldn’t-care-less act can backfire, because “a total absence of jealousy can be seen by your guy as a sign that you aren’t invested in the relationship,” says David Buss, Ph.D., author of “The Dangerous Passion.” No, you can’t go all “Fatal Attraction” every time he comes into contact with another woman, but it is OK to casually point out specific things that irk you — like when a friend flirts with him or he repeatedly brings up a female co-worker you distrust.

Just keep the comments directed at the chick’s behavior so you don’t seem like you’re trying to control him. Examples: “I don’t like the way she was hanging all over you” or “Could she show any more cleavage?” Revealing your inner green demon — in moderation — is flattering because it lets him know that the threat of losing him disturbs you and it demonstrates a genuine desire to protect your bond.

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