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Do You Have a Secret?

How (and what) to tell your sweetheart

By Kathryn Lord Updated: May 22, 2009
Kathryn Lord
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I don't know your secrets, but I do know that just about every one of my romance clients has asked me sooner or later, "How do I tell him/her about...?" Do you have a nagging issue that you just can't figure out how to share with a new partner? Everybody has something they are ashamed of, and that kind of embarrassment can get in the way of starting to date, much less becoming intimate and close.
“These are some of the things my clients have worried about”
These are some of the things my clients have worried about: too much weight, too little height, not enough or too much hair, flabby skin from weight loss, a cancer history, disease (sexual or otherwise), their age, nutty or nasty families, number of marriages and divorces, not enough sexual experience or too much, money or the lack of it, substance abuse or jail terms, unresolved legal messes, unwise previous partner choices, past physical abuse, and compulsions or phobias.
It doesn't take much of a molehill to become a dating mountain. Check out some more excuses -- some serious, more funny -- that folks have sent me for putting off dating.
To tell or not to tell?
Here are questions to ask yourself about whether and what to tell:
  • If my sweetheart had a similar problem, would I want to know about it?
  • Would receiving this kind of information be important to me in deciding to go ahead with this relationship?
  • If I were them, would I want to know what I am keeping secret?
  • Do other people know? Could my sweetheart find out from someone besides me?
  • Is what I am worried about a matter of public record that could be discovered with a little research?
  • Will it affect my health or quality of my or my partner's life?
Then consider: how will not telling affect you? Will you feel guilty, worry that your sweetheart will find out? Will your worry get in the way of your partner search, or of really getting close once you find someone?(This is a quick overview of a very serious issue -- if you need more depth and thoroughness, you could use my book "Find a Sweetheart Soon!" Chapter 13 deals with telling the hard stuff in much more detail.)
How to tell them
First, get right with yourself. You need to be able to tell and explain your story without shame and self-deprecation. You may need to talk to someone about your struggles, perhaps a coach or a therapist.
Write down your dilemma and practice it out loud until you can say it without flinching or stumbling for words. Then, don't wait too long. Now, I don't mean tell your worst in the first email or phone conversation, but I think
“it's important to get difficult matters out of the way early on”
it's important to get difficult matters out of the way early on. Likely, you'll want to establish that the two of you have a good connection, and that a future together is a possibility. But before you get too close, and certainly before you become sexual, get the hard conversations out of the way.
Just about everyone nowadays knows the importance of the awkward "safe sex" talk. That would also be a good time to bring up other difficult matters.
Tell your partner that you have something to tell him/her that is hard for you, but that you feel he/she needs to know now, before things go further. Then take a breath and start talking.
Good news
If your sweetheart hears, understands and accepts you and your story, you've found a gem. Treasure it. Truth-telling builds trust. Relationships are about trust. If your budding relationship crumbles under your news, then this one was not the right one for you. Consider it a gift.
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A Yahoo! Contributor
l agree that a true relationship should be built on trust and no lies or secrets.
A Yahoo! Contributor
I have been fighting myself over this issue. I met a man about a year ago. There is a special connection between us that we both feel. As we became closer I learned he had a live in girlfriend who had moved from another state to live with him. By the time I learned about this my feelings have become very strong for him. The other issue is he is also a co-worker. We have had the opporunity to express our feelings to one another at which time i let him know that due to his situation it would be wise for us not pursue this relationship other that friends. As time has passed our feelings have become a little more strong and he shared his feelings with me by letting me know that he has been interested in me and would like to take the next step of pursuing an honest/intimate relationship with me. I let him know that i have feelings of guilt and personally i feel that i am committing a sin. I have not been in a serious relationship for over 7 years and am afraid that my feelings for him will just get stronger. What should i do, i feel my heart is overtaking my brain.
A Yahoo! Contributor
Sweet heart, if you think you are committing a sin, what do you think of some one that is living with a lady as he is? Then going for someone else? Is that what you want? If you believe in sin, maybe you can ask the God that died for your sins to forgive you and to help you find a virtuous man that will honor not only you but The Creator? Just some thoughts, as you asked for advice on what to do... I think you already know... There is a promise for you: &quot;Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.&quot; Psalms 37:4 God Bless
A Yahoo! Contributor
To the woman who posted the second comment, the answer lies within you. I believe you seek confirmation for what you already know. Get out quickly and don&#39;t look back. Its obvious he doesn&#39;t truly value and respect you, if so he wouldn&#39;t try and pursue a relationship with you while currently playing house with someone else. That&#39;s not love, that&#39;s selfishness!!! Don&#39;t allow this man to play on your vulnerability. When its right you&#39;ll know it, and won&#39;t need to ask for advice or confirm it. I wish you the best in making the best decision for your life.
Anton
Pluuuuuuueeeeeeeeessssssssse! To the woman who posted the 2nd comment--the guy is a player. If he &#39;cares enough to have expressed his attraction to you, blah, blah, blah...&#39; It&#39;s simple: He has absolutely no respect for the live-in girlfriend, and has even less respect for you.
A Yahoo! Contributor
I agree with Anton. I&#39;ve been that guy who&#39;s &quot;feelings&quot; was used as an excuse to hook up with women who weren&#39;t my g/f. Then i would say it was wrong and that the affair has to end but i will always care about you and maybe one day...
A Yahoo! Contributor
Honesty is the best policy. All lies eventually get caught! A little mystery is good but on all the important issue you need to declare, discuss and undersand everything, you can only lose with a lie! My sweetheart doesn&#39;t need to know about something I did a hundred years ago unless it will come back to haunt either of us. She definitely needs to know about the recent past and all moral and ethical issues that of course can exclude some past relationships with a one legged blind prostitute that she just might not understand.
No Photo
Ok so here goes, I&#39;ve been married for like 15 years now no kids. Never wanted none. Anyway The wife comes up with this idea we should start swinging, open relationship sorta deal.(after watching Opera 1 day) I am not so fond of the idea but after talking it over and mulling it around in my head for a month or so I finally agree.Ok she is just more of a flirt or what ever and is not that into the act,I am more of a hands on type guy and well our first party we attended as swingers I am all over this one chic there who says she knows me from somwhere.Took the wife a lil by surprize how easliy i fell in to this sceen like. A few months pass by i meet this wonderfull girl lil younger than me she has 2 kids from a former reationship,wife ends up having a lil fling with a guy.I end up having feelings for this girl now as we found we are more compatable than i had ever been with the wife.This has gone on over a year now and now this GF of mine wants me all to her self sorta dealand wants me to terminate relationship with the wife now all together. Damn yes ok GF makes me happier than i felt in years,but what is one to do here now. I wish i could just love them both because i do,it just seems that GF & I have a whole lot more fun doing things together than me and wife ever had,except for the 2 kids deal with the GF.Is there somthing wrong with loving 2 women at the same time, I know there is, in most peoples eyes.The way i look at it is that i swung out and didn&#39;t swing back. I would love to continue this relationship with GF but now there seems to be an ultamatium, leave wife or me . iHate to have to hurt anyone in this including myself here because there is A conection between me and GF.We so happy together.I needmoreroom
Bruce
If you are starting a relationship with someone,I think you should ,both sit down over dinner ,befor things really get started and be truthful with each other. Then if there is magic between each other your ralationship is off to a good start.
A Yahoo! Contributor
I have a problem and I hope someone can help me. My Fiance and I was talking the other night about having a female friend to talk to about his problems and just chit chatting with. My feelings on that is , I feel that if your in a relationship and you have a problem you should be able to talk to each other or he can go to one of his guy friends like I can go to one of my female friends. He told me that if I got upset about it he would be pissed off and it would not matter to him how upset I got. He told me that I didn&#39;t trust him. I don&#39;t feel that at all. I feel like I need to get out of this relationship before we get married.
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