Katie Holmes was one half of one of the most famous couples in the world until about seven months ago, and that just hasn’t been long enough to make her feel comfortable about dating again.

Although many would like to see America’s Sweetheart find love–real love this time, not the creepy, controlling kind she had with Tom Cruise–a friend says she’s cautious about jumping into something so quickly, especially now that she’s had a taste of freedom.

“Katie’s in a dilemma, because she wants to date but is concerned where it could lead to from there,” the source said. “She’s worried that if she commits herself fully to another man, she will have to give up the freedom she’s enjoying so much at the moment. As a single woman, she has no one controlling her nowadays, telling her what to do or who to see and she absolutely loves it!”

But being without a mate can get lonely, and it’s unlikely she’ll shun love for long.

“At the same time, she also misses being with someone special to share experiences with and she doesn’t want to be alone for the rest of her life,” the source told RadarOnline.

The actress has been keeping busy, however, and is finding success since she’s been on her own; first with her clothing line, Holmes & Yang–which showed at New York Fashion Week–and then on Broadway, in a production of “Dead Accounts”. For now, at least, it seems she just doesn’t have time to date.