Breaking up is hard to do, but getting back into the dating game can be even harder, especially if it has been a while and you aren't psychologically prepared for it.

Being psychologically prepared means getting out of your own way and having faith that fate will provide you with another partner, just as it has so many times before.

Your first step is to heave that chip off your shoulder, get out of your bathrobe, get a make over and stop spending your nights in front of the television watching "Cheaters" or calling your friends for sympathy.

If you don't feel that you are not quite done wallowing in self pity or anger, by all means continue as you were, but realize that there will come a day, sooner or later, when you will become bored with yourself and want to face the real world again.

Once you have cried, screamed, wailed, stopped blaming, stopped shaming and forgiven yourself (as well as your ex) you are ready to go on to the next step towards becoming a bearable human being again."