This week’s post is a round-up of articles I shared with some really great sites, and they all deal with a favorite subject of mine: how to get beyond your fears of dating and make a connection with someone new. It is a hard process at times, and rather than dealing with the frustration and disappointment, sometimes it’s easier to ignore your personal life instead. To put your desires on the shelf. But does this really serve you?

Before I begin, I wanted to say that these opportunities came about because I just launched a new book called Date Expectations. My book deals with the stress and frustration of dating, so my guest blogs have been aimed at tackling topics that are messy and painful. But hope I believe is what drives us. When we suspend our beliefs about dating, we are creating a real shift in our thinking and in our reality.

Connections don’t come about because two people are perfect for each other, or magically run into each other at Trader Joe’s and realize they are meant to be together. It takes courage to pursue something meaningful. Connections happen because two people are willing to believe that each other is worth pursuing. Even though shit may happen, love and passion and incredible relationships happen too. So why not believe that it can happen to you?

My piece for DatingAdvice deals with the subject of work and dating. We are all busy with our lives, and sometimes we’ll use this to avoid forming romantic ties to anyone. We are too busy to date, but we’re not. We’re just not making it a priority like we do our careers. And lastly, my article for Huffington Post tackles dating single dads. This can be a deal-breaker for a lot of single women without kids, but I give a few tips on what to expect if you’re thinking about dating a man with kids.