A man who’s squaring his shoulders toward you is interested in getting to know you. Is his foot pointed at you as well? Great. His legs will be spread slightly, and he’ll definitely be facing you.

Everything from movies and TV shows to our own mothers have made us feel as though we have to play hard to get for as long as possible. But that nagging voice in the back of your head that “one little text won’t hurt” still sometimes wins out, making the mature choice not such an obvious one.

Whether rooted in a small household squabble or something more momentous, forgiveness is essential to working through the rough patches, healing, and ultimately finding yourself in a happier, more intimate marriage.

Since nearly all romances that transpire within a short timeline of another are slapped with the rebound label without much forethought, here’s a Dating with Dignity guide to determining whether your rapid-fire romance is a rebound or the real thing.

This leads us to ask, what happened to the “power couple”? Today when we hear “power couple,” one popular relationship comes to mind: Beyoncé and Jay Z. They both were first musicians and have branched out to other investments that have made them both extremely successful. We (as women) can get our masters or doctorate, or own our own successful business, and still end up dating someone not as smart or successful! That leaves us wondering: What can we do to ensure that we date someone as smart and successful as ourselves?

Before you start to feel like there’s a “problem” with your relationship, ask yourself this question: Why is marriage so important to me?

There is Mr. Right, and then there’s Mr. Right NOW. Mr Right Now is the one who you see and are immediately attracted to. He’s a smooth talker, well dressed, well traveled, has a good job, and could romance you into bed that same night. Mr Right is the one who you may be attracted to (or not be attracted to), may not have a great job (but is motivated, the most important trait…), may be somewhat awkward when speaking to you, but is attentive and respectful of you from the get-go.

Marriage takes work. Unfortunately, marriage in the movies isn’t an accurate portrayal of a real life relationship. While dating someone, it may seem as if nothing could go wrong and that marriage is an obvious next step. It’s important to know that people change, especially if you marry young (and even if you don’t!).

It’s no secret that to make a relationship last, there must be love AND lust. But which is really more important?

The Beta Male is the observer: the one who YOU think is cute and you’re dying to talk to, but you’ve convinced yourself that HE has to make the first move.