She calls you when her car breaks down. When she needs help moving. When some guy she's actually dating treats her badly.
You're the listener. The reliable one. The guy who would treat her so much better, if she'd just open her eyes.
She won't. You trained her to see you as the low-effort option — the friend who requires zero risk and zero investment. Every favor dug the hole deeper.
The "22 Rules" break the pattern. You'll stop auditioning for a role she already cast and become the man she chases instead. It starts with Rule 1.
Dinner ran three hours. She laughed at everything. You walked her to her car thinking this one's locked in.
Then: nothing. Two texts. No reply. What happened?
You did what most men do on a great date. You filled every silence, answered every question, and left her with nothing to wonder about. No mystery. Nothing to sit with when she got home.
Rule 3 of the "22 Rules" changes the ending: tell her a little, hold back the rest, and let her imagination do the chasing. The ghosting stops too.
I could talk to any woman I wasn't attracted to. Charming, funny, relaxed. Then a gorgeous woman looked my way and I'd become a sweating, babbling mess.
The fix took me years to find and ten minutes to learn. Nervousness and excitement are the same physical state — pounding heart, adrenaline, flushed face. Your brain just picks the label. And you can pick a better one.
Rule 16 shows you how. You feel the nerves, relabel them as excitement, and let that energy pour out as enthusiasm. Women notice the guy radiating it. They always do.
ljorozco said:Hi all.
I gotta say this is an awesome thread. It's been so helpful. I thank each of you for your wisdom.
Short version of the story: Almost 4 years invested in the relationship. She cheated on me several times (7 guys). I took her back each time. We got engaged in Nov last year. Engagement lasted 95 days. Day 96 she slept with some House music DJ. At day 55 she went out on a date with some dude she met in her hotel lobby bar. 2 days ago went to meet her to talk it out and finalize things, and walked in on her with the DJ (smooching/rubbing). Got the ring back.
Day 1. Here we go. I should be on day three but she baited me into an argument. It's hard. I know logically she's bad for me and not who I should be. She's so cold and bit&h to me. The ego is what's so bruised.
Be strong together gents.
Bling said:days since break up: 17
days since phone contact: 12
days since text contact: 10
been breaking the no facebook stalking rule. fuhhh. really want to contact her for my roissy three weeker (http://heartiste.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/how-to-win-back-an-ex-girlfriend/), but I keep remembering how she had all these beta exs that were still calling her while we were together. don't want to be another guy that pumps her up. it's impossible for us to be together again as we did long distance, but damn I want her back. still tough to get over her.
words of encouragement would be appreciated fellas.
Next Monday you'll feel more confident. After the gym you'll feel more confident. After one more drink you'll feel more confident. After you get a better haircut, a better jacket, a better job.
You've been "getting ready" for two years.
She's standing ten feet away right now. She'll be gone in four minutes. No amount of preparation will manufacture the courage that only comes from moving your feet.
Walk over. Stumble through the first sentence. Let it be clumsy. Let it be imperfect. You will feel more alive in those ten seconds than you have all month.
Heal yourself first man, NC , go to the gym or do whatever make you mind busy, it's ok you mess up, don't hang up with her right now...durrr said:Day 2...
This hurts. And it is extremely hard. I'm almost caving in wanting to try and communicate. We talked on the phone Monday night and she told me she still wanted to go on dates but take things slow. And told me we should hang out Thursday. Then Thursday comes and she tells me she was sorry had 2 papers I just said okay and haven't contacted her since. She hadn't contacted me either. I've done a lot of great things for this girl and I know I made her happy. It's just a scary feeling she will forget me and all the good times we had. This will be the Third week I haven't seen her. I know I messed up 2 weeks ago. My trust issues got the best of me.
i think you should stick with nc, try as hard as possible to focus on urself, improving urself. dont think too much about her text.HW1984 said:Day 8...Since I broke NC.
Day 3...SInce she texted. (I have not responded)
Day 16... since break up
No different than yesterday. Can't get her out of my head no matter what I do. What seems to bother me the most and I know is doesn't matter either way but is she missing me too? I almost want to feel that if she doesn't I can move on easier. Since her text, I'm back at the is that her? everytime my phone goes off. I feel like I'm back to the first couple of days. That text set me backwards.
That sentence contains at least five follow-up questions she WANTS you to ask. Where in Florida? What brought you here? How long have you been in the area? What do you miss? How does it compare to here?
She handed them to you on a silver platter. And you said, "Oh cool. I come here every week. I love this band. Ummm... pretty crowded tonight."
She smiled politely. Nodded. And never texted you back.
I was that guy for years. Talking too much. Listening too little. Panicking about my next sentence while she was literally feeding me the answers.
Then I found 22 rules that fixed the whole thing. Rule number one: shut up and listen. She'll tell you exactly what to say.
Thats exactly what it was meant to do, set you back!HW1984 said:Day 8...Since I broke NC.
Day 3...SInce she texted. (I have not responded)
Day 16... since break up
No different than yesterday. Can't get her out of my head no matter what I do. What seems to bother me the most and I know is doesn't matter either way but is she missing me too? I almost want to feel that if she doesn't I can move on easier. Since her text, I'm back at the is that her? everytime my phone goes off. I feel like I'm back to the first couple of days. That text set me backwards.
Cheers dude, i learnt the hard way, but now its paying offPairPlusRoyalFlush said:So much wisdom here![]()
Your buddy Dave has been single for three years and thinks "hey u up" is a valid strategy. Your other buddy Mike just got dumped and told you to "just be yourself."
You showed them her text. You asked them to decode the emoji. You drafted four responses and sent the screenshot to the group chat for a vote.
She's been waiting forty minutes.
Put the phone down. Stop crowdsourcing your love life. Type something that sounds like you. Hit send. Then go do literally anything else with your evening.