Is your relationship making him commit or making him jump ship? Are you moving forward or sliding backward? Do you want to talk to him about it or do you wish he'd just read your mind? It's a dilemma many women face, but you don't have to trust to luck. There's a lot you can do towards making him commit.

1. TWO STEPS BACK FOR A GREAT LEAP FORWARD

Although it seems counter-intuitive, one of the best ways of making him commit to a relationship is to back off a little. Women are used to handling their emotions in company, but men need space to come to terms with them. By giving him some space and making yourself less available, he'll start to realise what he's missing - and come running!

2. TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL

It's very unfair to expect anyone to be able to read your mind, least of all the man in your life. Perhaps he's blissfully unaware that you want to move the relationship on a stage. The only way he'll know is if you tell him

3. DON'T BE AFRAID TO HEAR THE TRUTH

Some girls hold back from talking to their guys about the relationship because they're afraid of what they'll hear. But not knowing is far worse. If there's something holding him back, you need to know so that you can do something about it. If nothing can be done, you need to know that too, and sooner rather than later.

4. BE HIS PAL

Every relationship needs to be based on true friendship - or why bother? True friends trust each other and want each other to be happy, so be prepared to be his pal. If that means letting him have Friday night out with the boys, do it with a smile. He'll be equally happy to let you have Friday night with the girls.

4. BE HIS CHEERLEADER (AND LET HIM BE YOURS)

We all need support, and your man needs it most of all. Support doesn't mean slavishly agreeing with everything he says and does. It means standing by him, making him feel good, picking him up when he's down, and letting him know that you believe in him and that you'll be there for him no matter what. It also means letting him know that you expect the same treatment in return.

These tips are the building blocks of a happy, healthy relationship. Once these are taken care of, everything's in place for making him commit, because who wouldn't want to commit to a happy, healthy relationship?