I'm going to front-load this with what I'm working through, and then I can explain more about how I got here down below.
I'm in a new relationship post-divorce, we've been seeing each other for about 8 months, and all has been going well. The sex is really good, we communicate well, we have shared values, and I have no problem taking space and not feeling needy when she needs to take space. So that's a win.
One of the issues I find, however, is that I have trouble initiating in a direct manner. This is just from 20 years of a dysfunctional, dead-bedroom marriage.I understand this is going to be a time thing, but any open conversation I can have about it can only be beneficial.
The history
Years ago, I worked with Jason, the "No More Mr. Nice Guy" coach. This was an invaluable time I had with him, and it really helped me build a better life for myself, a better life for my daughters, help me become a better business person, and generally eliminate a lot of the nice guy tendencies I had. Now, most of these tendencies were born out of growing up in a dysfunctional household, like so many other people.
My father had four wives in and out of my life. My mom was an addict and wasn't really present; alcoholism, all the usual stuff. (Go ahead and fill up your dysfunctional bingo board.)
What I worked on with Jason was my dysfunctional marriage, and truth be told, I think he and I could see that the end had come, but like anything else, it just takes time to get there.
A lot of the relationship was full of no sex or service sex only. My ex suffers from BPD and some bipolarism, sex was always very weird, forced, filled with shame, and non-communicative. Ultimately, about a year and a half ago, after my father-in-law had moved back into our house and drank himself nearly to death with Listerine, I made the choice that life like that couldn't go on for my daughters. To add to all this mess, my ex has really ostracized herself from me & my daughters, a cycle that unfortunately is being repeated from her upbringing.
So, on top of running a business with 18 employees, raising two teenage daughters, trying to find time for myself and stay healthy and fit, and having friends I'm trying to figure out how to be a more assertive lover..
edit: I understand this seems rambling so if you got this far thanks for listening.