Relationships. What a loaded word. 
As women, we desire to feel loved, emotionally supported, protected, and adored. Men on the other hand seek autonomy, space, respect, and power.
We both come together with our list of wants, needs, and deal-breakers and wonder why it's so difficult to actually find someone who both challenges us and allows us to feel open to love.
Most of us also bring into a new relationship the history of our past whether we mean to or not, protecting ourselves from being hurt and closing ourselves off from our biggest vulnerabilities. Men find it difficult to display love and affection because they often guard their heart after it's been hurt. Us women protect our emotions and feelings because this is where we have felt neglected in our past.
So what do we do in order that our feelings don't get crushed? We morph ourselves into a woman that we feel will be more accepted by men. We don't express our needs as much if at all, we pretend that it's okay that he didn't call back for 3 days after we slept together, and we shrug off his non-committal behaviors even though what we're really seeking is a fulfilling, exclusive relationship.
Let's look at the whole picture here. We are all entering these new relationships with our own needs and agendas, unwilling to be vulnerable and open with who we really are.
I believe that relationships are brought to us by God as a divine appointment to complete some much needed inner work. Instead of asking, "What can I get from you?" the question to ask is, "How can I give of my love unconditionally to this person?"
How would your relationship change if you sent the man in your life (dating or attached) unconditional love each morning before you started your day? Not wishing he'd call, or hoping that he'll finally see how great you are and commit, but just send him complete, unconditional love and acceptance for his happiness.
I think it was Marianne Williamson that I heard say that a thought never leaves its source. Which means that in this case, when you send the wish for his happiness, you are also giving it to yourself. So no matter what, regardless of if he calls or not, you will be happy.
This is a whole new way of looking at things. You now become open to giving of yourself completely, exactly as you are, because you aren't asking for anything in return.
As you begin to enter relationships from this point of view, what will happen is that you start attracting men who are more willing to open up to you as well. You get what you put out in the world. When you come from a place of wholeness and giving, you allow him to be more of his divine self as well.
Can you see how this is true in your life? Take a snapshot of your current or most recent relationship. Can you honestly say that you have loved completely and unconditionally? This is a work in progress, because unconditional love doesn't come easy for most of us. So be easy on yourself and just see how you can drop your expectations just for today and radiate more love to the person in your life right now.
Before I end, I want to add a little disclaimer here. This does not mean that you allow an emotionally unavailable or abusive relationship to continue. By being unconditional love, it may mean that what you need to do is end the relationship that you're in because it is not serving both of your higher purposes. Loving him unconditionally means loving yourself wholly and not settling for less in a relationship. By releasing something that no longer serves you, you are making room for someone who can give back that same accepting, unconditional love and affection.
