Secret to Happiness: The Uncomplicated Guide for a Happy Life

How can I be happier? The million-dollar question we ask ourselves… but most of us are still waiting for an answer. But is there a secret to happiness?

While scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, you’d think people have found the secret to happiness. Everyone is smiling, laughing, having a good time. How could they not be happy?

The pictures give all the signs of a perfect and happy life. But, as we all know, the minute you go further into someone’s life, you realize their social media is just a facade. I think we can all agree, we’re not much different from the people we see on social media.

The simple secret to happiness

Sometimes, it’s hard to think about being truly happy. There’s a lot of terrible and sad things happening in the world, and we see it on a daily basis. How can we be happy when the world is full of suffering?

[Read: How to be a good person and transform your world]

Not only that, but we’re animals, designed to survive and protect ourselves from danger. Thus, we’re always on alert for something that can potentially harm us. So, where does happiness fit in? Well, shockingly, like almost everything else in life, happiness takes practice. Yes, you read right.

If you want to be happy, practice. But practice what exactly? Well, here are the 14 secrets to happiness to practice daily if you want to live a happier life.

Can you keep a secret? Because I have the answers.

#1 It’s all in your head. You’re only as miserable as you think you are. There are people around the world who have less than you, yet they feel happiness. Why is that? Because they decided their mental state. You can choose to see the glass half full or half empty. Of course, for some people, it’s easier to be happy than it is for others. [Read: How to be more positive and change your life]

#2 Let go of taking the “right path.” We all have an idea of how we want our lives to turn out. Maybe you want to become a millionaire or the lead singer of a famous rock band. But obsessing over a specific outcome won’t lead to happiness. By focusing on a specific goal, you miss out on opportunities for happiness.

#3 You’re happier than you realize. Many of us suffer from a happiness blindspot. We’re actually a lot happier than we realize, but we aren’t focusing on it. Rather, we focus on the negative, the things that can quickly manipulate our mood and destroy our day. But when you strip it all down, in essence, we aren’t focusing on making ourselves happy. [Read: Is negative thinking ruining your life?]

#4 Be present. If you want to feel happiness, be present. Worrying about what will happen in the future or past will only work to take you out of the moment. The past has happened, and the future can’t be determined. Quit focusing on things that aren’t relevant to the present moment. Once you stop thinking about the past and future, you’ll relax and enjoy your life.

#5 You choose your own definition of success. When it comes to learning the secret to happiness and success, most of us think of it in terms of monetary and material goods. He’s so successful, he has his own car and apartment, or, She’s so successful, she has her own business and the latest Prada bag. 

What did you just read there? The word success was automatically tied to status and financial wealth. And that’s complete crap. You decide what success means to you. If you follow society’s definition of success, you’ll always be chasing something you’ll never have.

#6 Practice gratefulness. If you’re not grateful for what you have in your life now, you’ll always be chasing an unreachable goal. Happiness isn’t about getting what you don’t have. It’s about focusing on what you already have. Look at your life and acknowledge the things you’re grateful for. This can be friends, family, and passions. [Read: 15 authentic ways to be grateful and express it well]

#7 Don’t wait for tomorrow. We always say we’re going to start tomorrow. If you want to paint, start today, don’t wait for tomorrow. When it comes to doing things that make you happy, make a choice to do them now. If you wait till tomorrow, then you’ll wait till forever. Nothing is permanent in life. Do what makes you happy before it’s over.

#8 Focus on things that make you happy. When it comes to self-sabotage, humans are the best at it. We always go against the things that make us truly happy. Commit to what makes you happy. If not, you’ll always be drawn away from it. Once you’re committed, no one will be able to take away what makes you happy. [Read: How to focus on yourself – 17 ways to make your own sunshine]

#9 Have hobbies that are your passions. If you love acting, take acting classes or join a local theatre. If you love running, join a running club. Sometimes hobbies can be only hobbies, but you focus on having hobbies that are connected to things you’re passionate about. Those are the hobbies you’ll flourish in.

#10 Prioritize your time. Most of us spend our time on things that don’t matter. We focus on small, mindless tasks because it makes us feel like we’re achieving something. But, in reality, we’re not doing anything. Instead, focus on doing things that are important to you, whether it’s seeing friends or family, exercising, or sitting down to read a book. [Read: How to stop glorifying buys and start living instead]

#11 Say, “I love you.” It sounds a little odd but hang in there. When you tell people you love them, you’re practicing gratitude. Plus, by making other people happy, you make yourself happy. Acknowledge your love for the people around you. They’ll feel love and give it back.

#12 Do something out of your comfort zone. If you want to be happy, challenge yourself. Now, you probably thought to be happy means doing things you want to do. But being happy also means doing things that scare you. The secret to happiness is tied to personal growth; if you’re not happy, you’re not growing.

#13 You don’t need to be the best. Being happy isn’t about being the best. Happiness isn’t a competition. This also means you shouldn’t copy someone else’s routine for happiness. You are your own person. Never follow someone else’s path to happiness because you won’t end up any happier. [Read: How to discover self-love and the keys to happiness]

#14 Practice daily. Who thought you needed to practice to be happy? Since we’re wired to survive and spot danger, happiness isn’t necessarily natural for most of us. If you want to be happy, you’ll need to practice because no one is responsible for your own happiness.

[Read: How to find happiness within yourself and manifest a better tomorrow]

The secret to happiness isn’t as complicated as you probably thought. But what you will need to do is be persistent and practice being happy. Eventually, you will feel lighter and more positive.

The post Secret to Happiness: The Uncomplicated Guide for a Happy Life is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

13 Blatant Signs Your Girlfriend Is Cheating

Is she cheating on you? When a girl is cheating, there will be signs. But to avoid making matters worse, you must not approach the question with an insecure mindset.

Have you ever looked for signs that your girlfriend is cheating on you?

I hope this hasn’t happened. But if it has, this article will help you notice some signals that indicate she’s cheating.

First, you need to make the distinction between insecurity and intuition. The two can be mistaken.

How to Make Him Feel Guilty for Ignoring You & Take Back the Power

It is not a good feeling when a guy ignores you, but instead of dwelling take the power back! Learn how to make him feel guilty for ignoring you.

Guys have these weird way of ignoring us, and it is so annoying. It just is. And being ignored is one of the worst feelings. Learning how to make him feel guilty for ignoring you will be very satisfying.

At least when you’re fighting you are interacting in some way. But when he ignores you, it feels like he just doesn’t care. He isn’t necessarily mad or upset, just neutral, which is somehow worse.

And when you feel that cruddy, you want him to regret that. You want him to feel cruddy too. It sucks to feel that way and wanting him to know how it makes you feel is totally normal. [Read: Understanding the psychology of ignoring some and how to fix it]

How do you want to make him feel guilty for ignoring you?

You are probably saying to yourself, “Any way possible! I came looking for this article for a reason and that is it. I want him to feel as bad as I do.”

I know, that sounds really great. And I get it. That is probably where my head would go at first too. But, now take a breath. Take a look at the situation from a distance.

What kind of guilty feeling do you want him to have? If you want to work things out and not just make him feel bad and dump him, you may want him to learn from this guilt. You don’t want the guilt lasting very long or else the relationship could unravel.

If you want him to come around and learn that ignoring you is unacceptable and hurtful, there are more healthy ways to let him know that.

But, if this is the last straw and he has ignored you one too many times, perhaps making him suffer is your end goal. And if it is, more power to you. [Read: How self respect affects you and your relationship]

Why was he ignoring you?

Being ignored is unacceptable behavior in a relationship, no matter the reason, but knowing the reason could help you out here.

Before wondering how to make him feel guilty for ignoring you, try to find out why he ignored you in the first place. Is this something you can talk about and move on from? Is this a one-time thing?

Was he ignoring you to go drinking with his friends? Was he ignoring you because he doesn’t want to text and drive? Was he in a meeting or was he upset and didn’t know what to say? [Read: Should I ignore him? When shutting him out helps or hurts him]

All of these things can be dealt with without making him feel guilty. First, find out why he was ignoring you. If he was being safe and not looking at his phone when driving, good. If it worries you when he ignores you, maybe get him a Bluetooth attachment so he can dictate a text.

If he was at work, maybe he can let you know when he has a meeting so you don’t feel like he is ignoring you in that moment. But, if he is ignoring you when out with his friends you can totally make him feel guilty because that is not cool.

But, if he was upset and needed space before saying something he would regret, you can clear things up by knowing that is how he handles stress. Maybe next time he can just text you to let you know he needs some space so you know he isn’t actually ignoring you in a cruel way.

Do you see what I mean? Sometimes being ignored by your man is a little more complicated than we think at first. [Read: When your boyfriend ignores you – Why he does it and how to respond]

How to make him feel guilty for ignoring you

So, here comes the important part, how do you make him feel guilty for ignoring you? Well, you are in luck. There are actually quite a few different things you can do here.

You can really make him rue the day he ignored you, or you can be a little more calm about it. So check out the ways for how to make him feel guilty for ignoring you and see which strikes your fancy. [Read: 14 powerful ways to ignore a guy that ignores you]

#1 Tell him how you feel. In order to make sure he truly feels guilty for ignoring you, tell him. That is the only way to get the message across and be crystal clear about it. Tell him how crappy he made you feel when he ignored you.

If he is a decent person that is worth your time and energy, he will feel bad for making you feel ignored. From there he should apologize and do better in the future. This is the mature and simple way to handle being ignored. [Read: How to treat a boyfriend that takes you for granted]

#2 Ask him to reverse the situation. If you spoke to him about ignoring you and he still does not seem to grasp the fact that he should not be ignoring you and should feel bad for doing so, ask him how he would feel if you ignored him.

Ask him how he would feel if he were trying to get in touch with you, and you just didn’t respond. It feels pretty crappy, and hopefully, his imagination will realize that.

#3 Take some space. I am not telling you to ignore him back, but taking some space can make him realize that being around you is better. You can respond to him but say you don’t want to see him for a weekend. You need your time or time with your friends.

Just take some time away from him and he will appreciate you more when the break is over. Also, guys are not always the best listeners, so even if you told him that ignoring you is not acceptable he may not take it to heart until he doesn’t hear from you. [Read: How to ignore a guy right and leave him chasing you]

#4 Live your best life. Stop worrying about how to make him feel guilty for ignoring you, and just worry about yourself. It seems like this is a subtle move and that he may not notice, but trust me, he will. Guys always notice when you are happy and living your best life.

When you are having a great time with your friends, focusing on work, and investing in yourself is when the universe will remind him to come crawling back because you are his queen. Just focus on your own happiness. Do not try to seem happy so he feels bad. Instead, actually focus on yourself and he will see that you don’t need him.

That in and of itself is more than enough to make him feel guilty for ignoring you. [Read: Why do guys come back when you ignore them? The mind games of men]

#5 Don’t care. Stop caring. Now I am not saying you should stop caring about him, just the fact that he ignored you. Don’t just overlook it and put up with it, but forget him.

You deserve better than some guy who is just going to ignore you out of the blue. As soon as you stop thinking about him, you win and he loses. He will feel bad and regret how he treated you. And you will be the happiest you’ve ever been now that you dropped 200 pounds of dead weight. [Read: How to make a guy realize he’s losing you – 13 hints that work]

#6 Give him an ultimatum. I personally hate ultimatums as I think they can be juvenile and wildly unhealthy, but sometimes they are necessary. If he is exhibiting a behavior that you do not accept and refuse to put up with, give him one last chance.

Tell him this is the last straw and that you are too good for someone to be ignoring you. You should be important enough to someone that they want to hear from you and talk to you. If he can’t be that guy, he is no longer your guy. Stand your ground, and he will run scared into your arms.

If not, once again, congratulations. You just dumped a pile of male garbage. [Read: How to use ultimatums correctly in a relationship]

#7 Ignore him back. This is a last-ditch effort. I would never advise you to ignore someone who is ignoring you because all it tends to do is create a nasty cycle of both of you ignoring each other until things explode or die out.

This also tends not to work because he won’t know if you’re ignoring him or if he is ignoring you. There is nothing to ignore. If it isn’t your style to speak out against his bad behavior this is an option, but not a great one.

[Read: How to communicate in a relationship and experience better love]

You now know how to make him feel guilty for ignoring you. You have got all the power here, so make the most of it.

The post How to Make Him Feel Guilty for Ignoring You & Take Back the Power is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

8 Questions to Ask a Guy Friend to Learn the Truth About Yourself

Want to know the inner workings of the male mind? Here are the eight questions to ask a guy friend for total clarity and peace of mind!

As a woman, there are very few things which a close guy friend wouldn’t tell you honestly. Seriously, there is something inherently honest about guy friends, to the point where they simply can’t sugarcoat anything. Do you know the right questions to ask a guy friend to make the most difference?

Want to know if your ass looks big in that dress? Ask your closest guy friend and prepare for the cutthroat truth. Want to know if you’re coming over as desperate? Ask your guy friend and prepare to weep.

If you have a close friend of the male persuasion, honesty comes as standard. Sometimes our girlfriends are so careful not to hurt our feelings, they might sugarcoat things a little too much and not reveal the honest truth about the situation. Guy friends? Nope! No beating around the bush here!

[Read: How to make guy friends who want nothing but platonic hangouts]

8 questions to ask a guy friend: Prepare to learn the truth!

If you want to know the inner workings of the male mind, the single best person to ask is a man himself. Here are eight questions to ask a guy friend to give you the answers you’ve always been looking for!

#1 What is my best physical feature from a guy’s point of view? We all find different things about other people attractive and other things completely unattractive. How do you know that you’re not focusing on the wrong part of yourself?

Go on, I dare you to ask your guy friend what your best physical feature is from a male point of view. The answer might actually surprise you! [Read: What guys find sexy and attractive in a woman]

#2 What do guys actually do in the bathroom for that long? I asked this. Yes, I know. I should have known I really wouldn’t like the answer, but it was something which I had pondered for a long time. If you choose to put this question to your guy friend *it will open your mind, for sure* then don’t be eating when he gives you the answer, that’s all I can say.

#3 Does it really matter if I have a few extra pounds? I don’t know about you, I can only speak from my own experience, but this is a question I have pondered for a long time. Having long had a few body image issues, I figured this would be one of those questions to ask a guy friend for a truly honest answer. I say ask if you do have a few hang-ups because the answer I got certainly put to rest my problems! Rock those curves! [Read: How self respect affects the relationships you have]

#4 Why do guys cheat? Total stereotype, I know, but it’s something many people wonder. Not all guys cheat, of course, but the ones who do, what actually pushes them to do it? Is it a physical thing, or is it more emotional?

Is it the same reason that some women cheat, or is there a different motivation behind it? The insight I gained from asking this question really made me think about relationships and monogamy a little more closely. [Read: Why do guys cheat? 3 real reasons and 27 convincing lies]

#5 Why do some guys say they’ll call, but never do? Ah, the age-old question. To be honest, I still don’t have a clear answer. It will be interesting to find out from your guy friend what he thinks about the subject! The answer I got? Boredom. Seriously, what am I supposed to do with that answer?

#6 What does it mean when a guy slides into your DMs? What does it actually mean? Does it mean he’s interested or bored? Does it mean he sent you a message when he meant to send it to someone else? Come on, guys, tell us what it really means! [Read: 11 signs he likes you but is too chicken to admit it]

#7 Does confidence scare you or do you find it attractive? If you want to learn more about the male mind, ask this questions. Some guys find confidence in their partner a little off putting, but some find it hugely attractive. Personally, I can’t understand why anyone would find confidence unattractive, but hearing different viewpoints is really interesting.

Would your guy friend be happy dating someone who earns more money than them? Would they be happy dating someone who was super-popular? Go on, ask!

#8 Why do my relationships keeps failing? This is the big one for me. If you want to find out what you’re doing wrong, or what you’re not doing wrong, ask your guy friend. He sees things from the other side of the coin, from the outside looking in, and he can tell you exactly what you may be unknowingly doing to cause your relationships to turn sour.

Of course, this isn’t all on you, and it could very well be that you simply have bad choice in partners. The answer should give you some insight to work with in the future.

What question to ask a guy friend have I missed out? Can you think of any others? For me, these were the ones I always wanted to see from a male perspective. Did I get much insight? To be honest, yes. It’s a great exercise to ask someone else what they think about certain issues, because we only have our own view and opinions to go on.

Every single person sees things different, and every single person reads situations in different ways too. The male perspective can often be very different to the female one, and whether you agree with the answers you get or not, it’s an interesting exercise to try. [Read: How to stop sabotaging your relationships]

The one question you shouldn’t ask your guy friend!

Don’t make the same mistake that my dear friend did. She had a very close male friend, and they had known each other for years. Their friendship was rock solid. The problem? My friend had developed feelings for her guy friend, but it was clear that he didn’t feel the same romantically.

We all told her it was never going to happen, but one particular evening after too many glasses of wine, she went for it. She asked him if he found her attractive in that way. The worst question she could have asked *by the way, this is totally different to asking a guy friend what your best physical feature is*.

The answer crushed her.

Of course, he told her that she was practically his sister and could never see her that way.

She cried for days, and no amount of ice cream could shake her out of her funk. She felt embarrassed, and she was worried she had ruined their friendship for life.

In some ways it was what she needed because she is now happily in a relationship and still close to her guy friend. Despite that, their friendship has never been quite the same.

So, if you’re going to think about questions to ask a guy friend, be selective if it has anything to do with you and your feelings. Friendship is not worth ruining because of drunken questions with underlying connotations. Ask my friend, she’ll tell you the same.

[Read: What do guys think of their female friends?]

These eight questions to ask a guy friend will certainly open your eyes to the other side of the coin. The way a man may see a situation, when you see it very differently.

The post 8 Questions to Ask a Guy Friend to Learn the Truth About Yourself is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

How to Seed Dates and Pulls Back Home

It's easier to get a girl to agree to a date or to go to your place if what you suggest feels familiar to her. But how do you trigger that feeling of familiarity? By seeding your suggestion first.

Recently I spoke with a friend who's back in the field after some time off, trying to shake off the rust. He's gone on a lot of dates but had trouble closing the deal with girls. And he mentioned his usual process for getting alone with a woman right now.

What he's doing, typically, is taking girls on a date, then later going for a walk with them, only to 'just happen' to end up right outside his building. He'll then invite them up.

Contents

1. How Seeding Works

2. How to Seed a Date

3. How to Seed a Pull

4. Wrap Up

Except most of the time they balk. Other times they'll go up with him, but resist kissing, and leave soon after he kisses them or tries to. He started to wonder if he might not be asking women to make too big a decision ("Go into this guy's place and get intimate, yes or no?") on the spot.

So I reminded him about seeding.

Seeding is a tool you can use to make it easier to get women onto dates and back to your place (or you to theirs).

It works by making women feel 'familiar' with the thing you want to propose, by introducing it earlier, before the decision point. Seeding a request or invite before you make it removes the 'on the spot' feeling when you do propose something, so a woman does not feel as if she suddenly must decide whether or not to do something then and there.

If you know how to seed dates and pulls with women, and you seed often, you'll discover let-downs like my friend has, where you bring a woman by your place and invite her up, only to run into a 'no', largely evaporate. Instead you get girls to agree before you even start on your way, and find they're bought-in by the time you arrive.

How to Tell a Guy You Like Him Over Text & Get a Flattering Reply

Admitting you like someone takes a lot of guts and vulnerability, but it can be easier if you learn how to tell a guy you like him over text.

If you are nervous to learn how to tell a guy you like him over text, it is okay. We have all been there. It is a scary thing.

I won’t sugarcoat it. Every time you tell someone you like them, there is a risk of rejection. Not only can it be embarrassing, but also even hurtful. Building up can be the scariest part.

Knowing that you will never know the outcome or their reaction is terrifying. And now that I have scared you even more than you probably already are, learn how to tell a guy you like him over text with a little less fear and a little more confidence.

Using texts to show your interest in a guy

Sure, social media and our addiction to technology has its downfalls, but texting is a gift. It is a wonderful way to communicate your feelings instantaneously without the jitters or word vomit of speaking face-to-face.

[Read: How to start a conversation with a guy over text]

The benefits of telling a guy you like him over text are endless. Sure, it may not be as romantic as in person and there won’t be a firework-inducing kiss afterwards, but it does have its upsides.

For instance, if you get nervous under pressure and tend to stutter or hesitate, planning out a text may be the ideal situation for admitting your feelings. Not to mention, it gives them time to formulate their response.

If you catch him off guard in person with an, “I like you,” things can get awkward really fast. But via text, he can take his time and think about how he wants to reply. So, learning how to tell a guy you like him over text definitely seems to have more pros than cons. So, how do you do it? [Read: 19 risk-free ways and examples to tell a guy you like him over text]

How to tell a guy you like him over text

You can totally make this text your own. Use your own personality and style to let him know you like him over text.

But, along with that, you may want to take a few of these pointers with you just for clarity.

#1 Pick the right moment. Timing is everything. You do not just want to text your crush and tell him you like him at two pm on a Tuesday when you haven’t been talking all day. Why not?

Not only will it drive you nuts when he doesn’t answer in less than five minutes when he probably isn’t even looking at his phone, but he will likely be confused. Don’t just text him that you like him out of the blue.

If you are talking, flirt a bit and lead into it. Tell him you like someone and aren’t sure if they like you back. Tell him there is someone you want to ask out on a date but aren’t sure how. If he offers you advice, use it on him.

Try to be in a conversation that can be easily turned into sharing your feelings. [Read: How to let a guy know you’re interested without being overeager]

#2 Avoid abbreviations. I know it is texting and not a 1900’s love letter, but create a little bit of romance and a lot of clarity. Avoid using “u” instead of “you” and “r” instead of are. Don’t use abbreviations he’ll have to google.

Stick with basic grammar and sentence structure just to make sure there aren’t any misunderstandings. This may be the only negative of telling him you like him over text.

You don’t have the body language or chemistry to rely on, so be sure your words are entirely clear. Also double check for any typos or autocorrect mishaps before hitting send. Trust me, you’ll be happy you reread it.

#3 Remain calm. Try not to freak out. Sure, the beauty of telling him you like him over text is that you can scream or cry or shake without him seeing, but calm down anyway. You are not proposing marriage. You are simply telling a guy you like him.

So, remember to breathe. If you know you are going to be anxious to get his response, stay busy. Watch a show or movie that will keep your attention or call a friend to distract you. [Read: What to text a guy when you’re making the first move]

#4 Play it cool. He is just a person you happen to have feelings for. He is not Nick Jonas or Michael B Jordan, so there is no need to freak out. You can tell someone you like them simply and calmly.

Sure, your feeling may be heightened and your crush may feel stronger than it really is, but he is just a normal person like you. He is also afraid of rejection and embarrassment. Remember he is just a person like you and he is not perfect.

#5 Be honest. I am not saying you have to tell him you stalked his Instagram so far back that you know all the names of his aunts and uncles, but tell him the truth. If you started to like him after seeing him take care of a friend who got sick or how he interacted with kids, let him know.

Being honest about why you like him and what you are looking for will help him remain calm when he replies.[Read: What to text a guy to get his attention instantly]

#6 Don’t profess your love. Even if you feel like you are in love with him, you probably aren’t, especially if you haven’t dated. Plus, telling someone you love them over text is just not very romantic. So, keep it simple.

Tell him you like him and are interested in going on a date. You don’t have to tell him that you’ve imagined your wedding or that you have dreams about him. Just ease into it. [Read: How to tell if a guy likes you through his texts]

#7 Have a plan. Spontaneity is wonderful, but not when you are learning how to tell a guy you like him over text. You don’t want to seem rehearsed but have an idea of what you’ll say when he replies.

If you told him you like him, are you planning on asking him out? Are you going to make plans to see each other? Do you want to date or just something casual for now?

#8 Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. This is advice for everything in life, but definitely this. You want to hope for the best outcome. You want to tell him you like him in a positive headspace. Go in with confidence and clarity.

But, there is always a chance that those feelings aren’t returned. That is just being realistic, not pessimistic. So prepare for that outcome. Know that it won’t be the end of the world, and you will get over it. [Read: How guys text when they like you – 15 things they do differently]

#9 Give them time to answer. Try not to be impatient. By telling a guy you like him over text, you are forging your right to an immediate response. You are letting him think of and then type up an answer. You are also taking the risk that he just fell asleep or put his phone down.

Like I said, distract yourself if you are becoming obsessed with checking your text messages. Do not double text him or send a question mark. No matter how curious you are, it only seems desperate. Now, if it has been more than 24 hours you can say something like, “Hey, just wondering if you got my last text, sweating a little over here.” [Read: Basic rules to play it cool with double texting and second texts]

#10 Take the next step. Once they respond, you need to take the next step. You can plan a date, talk about how long you’ve liked each other, discuss where this could go, etc. Or you can decide if you need space from them. Can you go right back to being friends?

Are you going to ask him why he doesn’t like you? Are you going to keep talking?

[Read: 9 sneaky ways for how to get a guy to ask you out]

Congratulations! You now know how to tell a guy you like him over text. Now take this new information and tell him how you feel.

The post How to Tell a Guy You Like Him Over Text & Get a Flattering Reply is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

Being Left on Read: What It Really Means When They Don’t Text Back

If your messages to a certain someone are always being left on read, is this a sign you’re being ghosted? Could it be a technological hitch? 

Social media is a wonderful thing, don’t you agree? Not only can you talk to anyone, no matter where they are in the world, but you can also *whisper it* semi-stalk the apple of your eyes without them even realizing it! Until it is used against you, and you’re left wondering what is happening. So, what exactly does it mean when you’re being left on read?

The age of social media semi-stalking

Want to know where they were last night? Check their Facebook! Want to sit and gaze at them in wonderment? Check their Instagram! Want to know what’s bugging them right now? Check their Twitter!

Okay, I know, I sound a little crazy here. I’m not a stalker, I promise. Ask yourself whether you’ve ever done it and be honest! Of course, you have! Everyone has used social media to look into the life of the one they have their eye on, and if you say you haven’t, you’re lying!

If your semi-stalking behavior is causing you to turn up in places they’re tagging themselves into, scale it back a little, but for harmless half-monitoring, I say go for it!

[Read: How to stalk on social media and find just what you’re looking for]

The problem is, if you pluck up the courage to message that certain someone and you’re being left on read, how are you supposed to take that?

If you’re not sure what I’m taking about, being left on read basically means that a message you sent has been read by that person, but they haven’t replied. Scathing. Brutal. Ouch!

Yep, it hurts and it’s embarrassing, but should you jump to the first conclusion that pops into your mind or wait it out?

[Read: How to respond like a grown-up when someone ignores you deliberately]

Why you’re being left on read

Put simply, if someone isn’t answering you and it happens more than once, I’m sorry, but take this as a negative sign. Yep, they’re ghosting you, they’re not interested.

It’s harsh, I know. In a way you should be grateful this didn’t happen directly to your face. That’s the other great thing about social media, you can hide behind it. It gives you a certain sense of false security. When it comes crashing down, okay, it hurts, but you can weather out the storm a little and hide until it passes.

Back in the day, we sent texts and wouldn’t know whether they’d been seen. Then came the ‘delivery report,’ which I have to say was a revelation. You knew they had received the message, the report said so! Now technology has advanced to the point where you can see that the message sent, delivered, and oh, wait, they’ve read it!

It’s wonderful when you see their picture show at the side of the message, or the tick turns blue. You wait for a few seconds, surely those little dancing bubbles are going to turn up in a second, telling you that they’re typing a message. So, you wait. You wait a little more. Then you decide they’re probably busy, and that’s why you’re being left on read. You wait until the evening, still no reply.

Ouch, once more.

Wait until the next day. If you have no reply by then, face the very real possibility that they’re simply not going to reply because they don’t want to.

Okay, I admit, there is the slight possibility *very slight* they’re not replying for another reason, a completely acceptable one. Perhaps they’ve been sick and couldn’t reply and then forgot or they lost their phone. Maybe they planned to reply, got sidetracked, and it slipped their mind.

[Read: The clear signs you’ve been ghosted and how to deal with it]

Should you send another message?

There are possible reasons you’ve been left on read. In that case, how do you feel about sending another message?

It’s a borderline topic. Firstly, does it make you look desperate? I think it depends on the content of the last message. You could follow it up with a joking remark, “hey, did you get lost?” or something akin to that. However, they could take that either way.

I say go for it if you feel you can. Put simply, if you’re being left on read, what harm is one more message? However, if you’re still being left on read after message number two, STEP AWAY FROM THE MOBILE DEVICE!

Seriously, more than two messages being left on read, it’s a serious message that they really don’t want to talk to you. Continuing to message beyond that point is a little desperate. In fact, it’s very desperate. Don’t be that person. [Read: Double texting, seconds texts and rules to play it cool]

Being left on read due to anger

Have you had an argument with someone and your messages are being left without reply? What should you do in that case?

It depends on the argument: who was to blame, what was said, and whether you should apologize.

The chances are they will calm down and reply, but in their own time. After message number two, wait it out. Don’t give up hope, because it’s likely you will get a reply after a day or two. But, don’t keep pushing. Some people need space when they’re angry. Once left alone for a short while, they see sense, come around, and messages flow once more.

If you need to apologize for something you’ve said or done, and your messages are being left on read, there is one important message you should send as a final point. Apologize! Say you’re sorry and then leave it. Allow them to work it out and come back to you in their own time. [Read: The guide to help you grow up and face life like an adult]

Don’t waste time on people who don’t reply

The other point I want to make is a motivational one. Call it my inner Beyonce, but I say if someone leaves your messages without a reply on a regular basis, walk away! Don’t waste a second more of your time on someone who can’t even be bothered to send you a quick message!

Let’s be honest, messages take less than a minute nowadays. We can all type so fast that a paragraph takes 30 seconds. When you look at it that way, the excuse of being too busy is a poor one. It basically means they didn’t deem you important enough to reply to, or they simply couldn’t be bothered. Neither excuse is acceptable, it’s just downright rude. [Read: Why did he stop texting me back? 13 rules you should follow]

Even if you don’t want to speak to someone, even if you’re not interested in them romantically, it’s courtesy to reply to them and make it clear, right? Am I just being old fashioned here? [Read: How to text a girl who stopped responding and win her attention back]

It’s embarrassing when someone leaves more than one of your messages without reply. Don’t embarrass yourself more by continuing to hold out hope, and certainly don’t send them one more message. A quick message might only take 30 seconds to type out and send, but that is 30 seconds of your time they don’t deserve. Do something more deserving of your time.

It’s also possible that they will reply to you when they see fit, i.e. a week or maybe more later. Maybe when they’re bored of whatever was taking up their time before. What does my inner Beyonce say to that? Leave them on read instead!

[Read: The science behind craving them more when you feel ignored]

If you’re being left on read, it’s a pretty clear sign this person won’t reply to you any time soon. Nobody is too busy to acknowledge another person. Don’t waste time hanging around and waiting.

The post Being Left on Read: What It Really Means When They Don’t Text Back is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.