Are You Waiting to be Rescued?

Fairytales have schooled us women from the beginning: be patient and a prince will come to rescue us from our otherwise unfulfilled lives, making us truly happy. As we grow older we recognize that relationships don't work this way in real life, but we continue to long for someone who will provide us with the same sense of security and romantic love that we first found in fairytales.

For instance, how many of us have put off that trip to Italy because we want to do it with a boyfriend or husband? How many of us settle in our boring jobs because we are afraid to start our own businesses by ourselves? How many of us get wistful at the thought of finding that one special person who can truly make us happy?

I'm willing to guess most of us have felt this way at one time or another. While we savor our independence and ability to choose our partners, we also spend a lot of time waiting for the right person to come along instead of taking charge and accomplishing the things we want for ourselves.

Following are some tips to help you stop waiting and start moving forward:

Create your own happiness. It's a difficult concept to realize that we are responsible for our own happiness. We wait for the right person to come along, thinking he will make us happy. Rather than expecting someone else to do it for you, recognize that you create happiness in your own life. Pursue your passions; enjoy the moment. When you are passionate about something, it builds your confidence, enthusiasm, and outlook. (And by the way, this creates positive energy and attracts people to you.)

Lighten up. Having a sense of humor is a very attractive quality. When you can laugh and stop taking yourself so seriously, others will feel more comfortable and open around you. This openness allows love to happen.

Be courageous. Sure, it's risky to do new things. Whether you would love to go on that bike riding tour around France or build a new online business, it takes guts to go it alone. But taking these types of risks is what opens our lives to new possibilities. If we don't take these chances now, when can we? It's much harder to make choices for yourself when you have a husband and kids in the picture. When you're single, it's the best time to live for you. Have courage.

Take a break. Sometimes we don't feel attractive or lovable, but rest assured, we are! Take time out to remind yourself that you are worthy. Pamper yourself if you need to, or gather with friends for a fun weekend. Sometimes, taking a quick break can remind us of our strength and abilities. When we have a fresh outlook, it's easy to feel confident and to make things happen in our lives.