Are you scared of commitment?

So you're genuinely content with being single and prefer to keep your dates casual and uncomplicated? Fine. But if you're not happy on your own - and still find yourself pushing men away when things threaten to get serious - you're clearly scared of commitment. And why's that? Chances are you've been hurt in the past. So what do you do? Get over it!

'The trick is to close the door tightly on the past,' says clinical hypnotherapist Dominic Knight (www.dominicknight.co.uk). 'Fear of commitment is based solely on the fear that things will be worse, there will be more pain than pleasure and more loss than gain. This unhealthy outlook can result in you losing out on a truly magical relationship. Remember, there are benefits and drawbacks to everything in life - but our most treasured moments and memories are always connected to the relationships we've had and the people closest to our hearts.' So stop looking for excuses to back out. Go with the flow and try to see the potential in any new connection you make.

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All your relationships - with friends, relatives, even work colleagues - are very important to you. You'd also be absolutely over the moon to finally find the love of your life and settle down with him. But you're sensible and realistic about these things. You're certainly not going to rush into anything unless you're certain it feels right. A word of advice? You can stay true to yourself - and ensure your emotions never get the better of you - by taking 10 minutes out each day to practise mindfulness. Psychologist Dr Massimo Stocchi (www.harleystreetpsychology.com) explains: 'Set aside 10 minutes every day to simply sit with your emotions and vulnerabilities in a non-judgemental way. This will allow you to become more mindful of what your needs are and how to achieve them.'

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Slow down! You're so desperate to settle down with the love of your life that you're prone to mistaking Mr Right-Now for Mr Right. This also means you run the risk of pushing away potential Mr Rights by being far too eager. Your mind runs away with you to the extent that you're half-expecting him to buy you an engagement ring before he's even bought you a drink! Yes, there is such a thing as love at first sight - but most relationships need time to develop. And in the meantime, it's important to feel comfortable with who you are. Remember, you're not defined by your relationships. Far from it.

'If you're addicted to commitment, it means you feel incomplete without someone in your life,' warns hypnotherapist Dominic Knight. 'And by doing this, you can repel a potentially good relationship. If you feel complete and happy in your own skin, you'll carry a more attractive presence. Taking relationships at a leisurely rate allows you to explore what would truly fulfil you, as well as becoming responsibly selective.'

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