We’ve all done it. We’re smack in the middle of a ho-hum, so-so, not going anywhere relationship. But, we don’t break up.

We stay. We go out for linguini and clams every Friday night, have a sleepover every Saturday night, and continue on as though we might actually want to be with this person on a permanent basis. Except, of course, that we don’t. And it’s not that there’s anything wrong with him (or her), except that he’s just not “The One.”

Then, we start to think of our alternatives. What will happen if we break it off? Staying home on Saturday nights for the rest of our lives? Getting stuck at the singles table at every wedding for the rest of the decade? A lonely, desperate life of Wheel of Fortune, solitary, TV dinners and rescued pets?
So we stay. After all, it’s not really that bad, right? Sure he doesn’t make your toes tingle when you kiss. Sure, she’s addicted to makeover television. Sure, his friends are well, obnoxious.

But here’s what happens when you stay in a relationship you’re not meant to be in: Every Saturday night you’re spending with Mr. Right Now, is a Saturday night you’re missing with Mr. Right.
Think about it. While you’re yawning through yet another night of blah-blah togetherness, your perfect match could be circling the block.

Why do we stay with the incumbent? Because not-exactly-perfect is a lot less scary than whatever surpise is behind door number three. Sometimes we worry that if we dump the person we’re with, that no one better will ever come along, and that we’ll lose the best thing that has ever happened to us in search of the ever-elusive toe-curler that may not even exist.

Most of us believe in our hearts that there is at least one perfect match for us. I am no exception: I met my perfect match the week after a three-year bland-as-white-toast relationship finally dragged itself to an end.

If you’re looking for something amazing to come into your life, you have to make room for it. In other words, if you stuff yourself with macaroni and cheese all day, and you won’t have any room to spare for lobster. Or triple-decker macadamia white chocolate cheesecake.

And, in all fairness, your King of Monotony may be somebody else’s Prince Charming. All it takes is one brave step, one chance taken to snag the guy or girl of your dreams. Just step away from the macaroni, and head out the door.

To read more from Lisa on topics like this & others on love, cheating, relationships or dating advice visit: http://www.lisadaily.com

TV Dating Expert Lisa Daily is the bestselling author of two dating books Stop Getting Dumped!, How to Date Like a Grownup and Fifteen Minutes of Shame (a novel) and is seen everywhere from Entertainment Tonight to the HITCH movie DVD.

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(C) Copyright 2002-2009 by Lisa Daily. All Rights Reserved.

Author's Bio: 

Dating expert Lisa Daily blogs her dating tips and advice at lisadaily.com/datingexperttv. She is the Dating Coach on Daytime , a nationally-syndicated morning TV show and a syndicated columnist. She’s also the bestselling author of Stop Getting Dumped! and How to Date Like a Grown-Up: Everything You Need to Know to Get Out There, Get Lucky or Even Get Married in Your 40’s 50s and Beyond. Lisa was featured as a real-life “date doctor” in the HITCH movie DVD starring Will Smith.