On the past few episodes of Being Mary Jane, the storylines of Mary Jane Paul and her girlfriend Kara Lynch provide prime examples of women who say they want love, but when it shows up, they are afraid to embrace the love that’s before them.

In the past, Mary Jane has been in so many dead-end relationships that when problems arise in her current relationship with boyfriend, Lee, she automatically assumes that the relationship is over. Truly, they have had a few hurdles to overcome from his kids to his overly sexual lesbian ex-wife who happens to be Lee’s best friend.  But with every encounter, Lee is ready to work past the problem, and Mary Jane is preparing her heart for the worst.

Kara’s relationship with professional athlete Orlando is heating up. Not only has Orlando professed his love to Kara, but he has made their relationship public as well, not recognizing that his public confession would make Kara a prime candidate of tabloid fodder. Although she feels the same way about Orlando, she has allowed fear of people’s opinions to hinder her from opening herself to receive the love she wants and desires.

What about you are you ready for love?

Here are a 7 ways to determine if you are open and ready to love:

1.  You are ready to do the work: When challenges arise in your relationships, you don’t run, but you take the time to work through each issue. By doing so, you are allowing each challenge to strengthen your bond and make the two of you stronger and better.

2. You have let the Past Go: You don’t judge, compare or base your current relationship on your past ones. You’ve acknowledged your mistakes and learned the lessons from your past relationships. Now you are ready to move forward and allow your new relationship to take its natural course.

3. You are willing to forgive: You have embraced the power of forgiveness. You are willing to forgive others as well as yourself. When unforgiveness sets in regarding your significant other, you are willing to give yourselves the time and space to walk out the forgiveness process.

 4. You embrace individuality:  You allow your significant other to be themselves. You accept them for who they are. You don’t try to change them to meet a prescribed standard you have in mind. You embrace their individuality just as they embrace yours.

5. You are tell the truth: You tell the truth in love and choose to work past any offense. Honesty is mandatory for a relationship to grow.

6. You desire transparency: You desire to be transparent and authentic by sharing your life with your significant other and not withholding who you truly are- including your mistakes.

7. You look in the mirror: The qualities and characteristics you desire in a mate you have worked to ensure those traits are within you as well.

Mary Jane and Kara could truly benefit from applying these points in their relationships. These  7 points are just the beginning, but if you have these in order, you are truly open and ready for love.

BMWK, Are you really ready for love?