There you are, in line at the grocery store when a very attractive person brushes up against you accidentally…or so you think. How can you be sure? You can’t right away, so you look again and try and make eye contact this time. First, to see if what you thought you saw was an attractive person, and then next (if you still think so), to see if the brush might have been deliberate. But how can you tell with a look? Maybe they were off-balance, or the person behind them bumped into them, or maybe they are nearsighted and left their glasses in the car. Before you make another move, I know you realize a lot is at stake here; what you do (or don’t do) in the next 30 seconds could change your life…forever.

Take our quiz and see what you know about flirting: Answer True or False, then add up and click here for answers)

1. When someone goes out of their way to talk to me they are flirting
2. When someone makes prolonged eye contact (more than three seconds) they want my attention
3. When a woman is flirting it’s obvious
4. When a man is overtly flirting he generally has one thing on his mind
5. There’s a difference between being flirtatious and flirting
6. There are right ways and wrong ways to flirt
7. Saying inappropriate things in the name of flirting is acceptable
8. Flirting when you’re in a committed relationship is fine as long as you don’t act on it

Here are some TIPS to help you engage in healthy, fun flirting:

So first things first, and at the top of the list when it comes to having healthy, fun flirting you need to ask yourself: What are your intentions? That’s right: What do you want? If you want a real relationship, for example, and you do find yourself in close proximity of someone you find attractive, naturally one of the first things you’ll do is scan that person for signs that they are available; wedding ring or, in this scenario, baby formula in the basket, wife or children in tow, etc., before you make a move.

The next step, once you’re clear you are in fact looking for that special someone is being safe (not to be a buzz kill)! You really can’t be too careful these days. So when you find you are attracted to someone, make sure you pay close attention to your body cues and all the signs that make you feel secure and safe, especially if you are the one being approached. Whether you are at a grocery store/bar/gym/party, take time to check in to those cues that register beneath the surface of whatever seems so compelling; his or her awesome butt or radiant aura. Everybody gives off a vibe; make sure you check theirs out good!

And the third step, the fun part, the actual flirting…there is nothing to worry about here at all. Sure you say, easy for you to say. Nawww, it’s in your blood. It’s in everyone’s. It’s built right into your nature, meaning it’s practically foolproof, ‘cause half the time you’re sending signals without even realizing. It’s about paying attention and practicing; a little brushing up never hurt anyone (since most of us freeze up when this unconscious behavior suddenly becomes conscious). That reflexive look, that urge to see who was brushing up against you and why, IS flirting at its very base! In the grocery store, it could be as simple as another attempt at making eye contact, holding your gaze for three or more seconds and smiling. Really, that’s it. The rest is as easy as finding something sincere and authentic in the moment to say, and you’re halfway there.

While the internet is fun and fast, nothing can take the place of one-on-one human interaction. My point is, don’t be afraid to get out there and practice connecting, just keep these three basics in your tool belt: what’s your intention (what do you want), be safe, and know that flirting is natural and part of your instinctive makeup!

For more info about Maryanne and what you need to know before you drop your drawers, go to info at Maryannelive.com

First and foremost, it is important to take the shy, introverted, nice guy image, hang him upside down, shake him around a bit, and come out the other side the exact opposite man.  You want to be outgoing, playful, confident, and mysterious.  That is step one.  Now I know you might think that women want that caring, sensitive guy, but they don’t.  Save that for later.  When it comes to initial meetings, and if you are trying to pick up a woman for the first time, that stuff doesn’t work.  Believe me!

It is important to remember, men, that women are approached, hit on, whistled at, and drooled over multiple times a day.  Every single day, this happens to a woman.  It is part of their routine and part of being a female on planet Earth.  Because of this, women have built up defense mechanisms and walls to filter out the guys that have a snowball’s chance in hell, from the men that might be fun to hang out with.  Not only is this necessary to select a mate, but it is also necessary as a time management tool.  Women wouldn’t  get through a day if they had to stop and talk at length to every moron that thinks they can score with her.

Women also operate on emotion, while men operate logically.  Now I am not saying that women aren’t logical, but for the sake of argument I am going to say that they are triggered more easily by emotion, and not logic.  I think many people would agree with that.  The interesting thing about this is that it doesn’t matter what the emotion is, as long as they feel a strong emotion.  So, if you can get a strong emotion out of a woman and harness it, she is going to take notice, and remember you.  Just doing that will give you an advantage over most men.

Women are like roller-coasters, where the highs are highs and the lows are lows.  Getting them to experience these highs and lows through your actions will get her to pay attention to you immediately.  By doing this, you will not trigger her defense mechanisms, and you will get past her wall.  Getting past this wall is a huge step in being able to keep a girl interested in you.

There is another key element in attracting women, and getting past their defenses.  Men, do not, under any circumstance, approach a woman looking for her approval.  You will be shot down instantly!  Women see right past this garbage, and it is a major turn-off to them.  It is also a huge sign of insecurity, and an insecure man is the absolute last thing a woman wants.  If you take the approval approach to meeting women, you are out of the game before the game even starts.

Women are looking for confident men, who have a strong and healthy image about themselves.  This is a very, very sexy quality women find in men.  These type of men are not looking for a woman’s approval, or any one’s approval for that matter.  They create their own world, manage that world, and rarely let outside influences or distractions shake their foundation.  Women long for this type of man, whether they admit it or not.

So men, remember that women build up defense mechanisms and walls as a management tool to filter out the good men from the bad men.  Women love feeling emotions and responding to those emotions, whether they are negative or positive.  Bringing these emotions out in women will get you past their walls, which is a big first step to attraction, and it will give you an advantage over most men.  Lastly, women want secure, confident men, so never approach them looking for their approval.  This is a major sign of insecurity, and they will see right through that.