Dear Miss Emily:

My boyfriend and I have been together for 4yrs and hes talking about leaving me, and says it's because i don't pay enough attention to him, and I know he's right. But how do i get him to stay long enough  to show him I can change?
I tend to get very obsessive over things I'm working on, and I lose all focus towards everything else. Even when it comes to things I enjoy, I have a hard time with keeping things in moderation. Im working on understanding were I started allowing myself to become so easily distracted and swayed. But I need to fiqure out how i can stop doing that and to prove that I'm worth giving a second chance. Any advice?

-------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-----------------------

I think the only way you can change this pattern is to attempt to block out time where you are not working on projects and devote that time to your boyfriend. Once you try this, if you find yourself watching the clock to see when you can get back to work, I don't think being in this relationship suits you, now, because of the demands. You seem to love work, and I assume it's creative and incredibly challenging and stimulating to you. But you can't have it both ways, now, because your boyfriend wants to leave. Whether it's an idle threat, or not, try to figure out where your true interests lie, and if it's time to reassess your commitment to him. This may be the most important part of your professional career and  you are allowing your joy of it to consume you. Nothing wrong with that if you are single, or your partner understands the commitment. Again, I'd think about what it is that you truly want, before you start figuring out ways to go against who you are in order to please someone else. If you have some sort of OCD, there is medication for that and you can see a doctor who will help you with that problem. There is no easy fix, but getting to the truth of the matter will be incredibly liberating.