When He Won't Propose: Dealing with a Man Who Won't Commit

Before you make any life altering decisions regarding the future of your relationship, there are many things to consider. Here is a guide for when you've been waiting on your man to pop the question and he still hasn't taken the hint.

Give it time - Most men do not put as much thought into relationships as women do. Women are more apt to spend time daydreaming about what kind of wedding dress she wants to wear and if she wants a spring or summer wedding. Guys don't do this. If you've been in a relationship long enough to where you feel like it should be moved to the next level, chances are guys are at the point where they just became comfortable with the fact that your toiletries are hanging out next to his in the bathroom and he knows what you look like on your worst day. He may need more time to get to where you're at.

Tell It To Him Straight - The majority of the male population will tell you subtle hints are lost on them. What we as women think is a glaringly obvious hint, he may not even notice. Ask him straight out if he has ever considered the two of you getting married. If he hasn't thought of it...he will be. If he has thought of it, get his opinion on it. Ask him, but don't keep asking. Which leads me to the next tip....

Don't Continually Bring It Up - Guys have a term for this, and that term is "nagging". Men have a master plan when it comes to females who nag...they stop listening. Its universal. And the more you nag, the less likely they are to do whatever it is you're harping about. Where we think nagging will motivate them to get something done, they use it as motivation to delay the nagged about subject even longer. Think they can't hold out against your superior powers of nagging? Ever heard of the term "selective hearing"?

Don't Issue An Ultimatum - Do NOT, under any circumstances, tell him that you either get married or you walk unless you are fully (and I do mean fully) prepared to join the ranks of single women the world over. Guys don't do ultimatums. I believe its in the top ten guy code commandments - "Thou shalt not succumb to ultimatums or thou shalt forever be considered a wuss". This is actually worse than asking a woman to sign a prenuptial agreement. Just...don't.

Look At His Past - Has he been burned in the past, perhaps multiple times? This may have something to do with his cold feet. Each failed relationship probably started out great, but after awhile ended up miserable and, obviously, over. This is especially true if he's been married before and it ended in divorce. No one goes into a marriage thinking its only temporary, so when it ends its devastating and often leaves one wondering if they are actually cut out for that kind of commitment. If this is true in your situation, go back to "give him more time." He may come around with patience and dedication to YOUR relationship.

Look Within - Why do you want to get married? Be honest. If its because you saw the perfect wedding dress in your friend's Bride magazine that you know would look absolutely perfect on you and you want to snag it before its out of season, then you're not ready for marriage. Keep in mind that if you honestly think this man is worth spending the rest of your life with, then he's worth waiting for. Getting married for the wrong reasons will have you reading articles titled "Is Our Marriage Over?" in five years.

Ask Yourself If He's Really "The One" - If you are absolutely sure this is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, then he will also be the one you want to be with regardless of whether you're married or not. Good men are hard to find. If you have a good one, then he's worth hanging onto with or without a ring. If you're considering walking away from the relationship now when you don't get your way, how are you ever going to handle the ups and downs of marriage when things don't go as planned? Marriage is a commitment, and they work best when you're actually committed before the marriage.