One of the biggest problems I see with men and relationships is that they never really tell you what they want.
It’s not because men don’t have needs or desires in a relationship. It’s because many men don’t know how to ask for what they want without feeling needy or demanding.
As a result, most men just don’t say anything at all. They “deal with it” or try to adapt to their girlfriends without expressing themselves.
Most relationship problems aren’t caused by a lack of love. They’re caused by a lack of understanding.
Women want their boyfriends to know that they’re appreciated. They want them to know that certain things bother them. But men aren’t born with a manual on how to meet those needs.
So they say nothing.
Instead of figuring out what your boyfriend truly wants, you’re just left guessing. Women think they know what their boyfriend needs. But when those needs are not met, they often react out of frustration instead of understanding.
When you guys are on the same page about each other’s needs, you build a stronger relationship.
So here’s a list of the things guys actually want from their girlfriends. You’ll learn what they want and why it’s important to them.
8 Things Guys Want From Their Girlfriends
1. Respect Instead of Constant Nagging
Guys need to feel respected in a relationship. They don’t need you to like everything they do, but they do need you to respect their input.
Think about how you would feel if your girlfriend told you to do something and you followed through, but she still complained?
Hint: You’d probably NOT want to do it for her again.
If a man feels constantly criticized or nagged at, he will likely withdraw into himself. He’s not a mind reader so if you don’t show him respect then emotionally he will disconnect.
Whether he admits it or not, respect is the key foundation for every relationship a man has with a woman.
Read also: 15 Ways to Respect Your Boyfriend
2. Peace Over Constant Drama
One of the number one reasons men dump girls is because of emotional drama.
Whether it be constant fighting, tension, mind games, or emotional roller coasters.
Men live for peace, inside and outside of relationships.
They love being around girls that make them feel relaxed and at ease when there’s no drama.
If your boyfriend feels like he has to walk on eggshells around you or never knows what mood you’re going to be in, he’s going to want less and less of that in his life.
The less peace you bring to his life, the less he’ll want to invite you into it.
Inner peace is important to a man. When he feels you are able to handle life’s problems without freaking out or overreacting, he feels safe with you.
This creates emotional stability in your relationship.
Read also: 12 Clear Signs You’re in a Toxic Relationship
3. Appreciation for the Small Things They Do
Guys do a lot of things for their girlfriends. Whether it be fixing things around the house, showing up for them, helping them with problems, or solving problems.
They do this because they love you and want to make your life easier.
When you don’t tell him that you notice and appreciate the things he does for you, he will stop doing them.
You may wonder how he knows you don’t care? Simple…
Men are very sensitive to how we react to the things they do for us.
Think about the last time your boyfriend did something for you and you said “Thank You.” Now think about the last time he did something for you and you didn’t say anything.
He knows when you don’t care about the things he does. When he realizes you don’t care about the small things, he will stop doing those things for you.
And soon you’ll struggle to wake him up in the morning because he “doesn’t feel like it.”
Small acts of appreciation emotionally encourage a man to do more.
Read also: 35 Funny Questions to Ask Your Boyfriend
4. Space Without Feeling Neglected
This is a big one that many women never truly understand.
Men need space, not to escape you, but to clear their head.
Some women view a man giving her space as him not caring about the relationship or wanting to break up.
That’s not always true.
Space can actually make a man MORE attracted to you if done correctly.
But once again, he has to feel you’re giving him space to breathe and not because you want to break up with him.
Providing space allows a man to feel independent while being with you. As long as you two can establish that and maintain it.
It creates physical attraction.
5. Loyalty That Is NOT Questioned
Let’s say you’re out with your girlfriends and your boyfriend is with his friends.
You send him a text asking if he loves you.
He replies with “Of course!”
A week later you see him talking to another girl and become upset that he asked you if he loved you.
Guess what? You just destroyed any sense of loyalty he had.
The second a man feels like he has to question how loved he is in his relationship, he will feel emotionally distant.
This goes for both men AND women.
Relationships are about trust and when that trust is constantly tested, the relationship will never move forward.
6. Support In Their Life Ambitions
When a man falls in love, he wants you to be part of his life, not just be along for the ride.
They love their careers, jobs, money, building assets etc. So when you show support for the things he loves, it only makes him want to give you more.
Support can be shown in many ways:
- Asking how his day was
- How was work?
- Listening to him vent about his boss
- Encouraging him when he wants to quit his job
All of these things may seem small and insignificant, but they mean the world to your man.
When you show your man support, you are emotionally empowering him.
7. Little Physical Touches Here & There
Physical touch is something that many women take for granted with their boyfriend.
Being physical can be one of the most attractive traits a woman can display.
Put your arm around him when you’re watching TV, grab his hand when you’re walking down the street, or just give him a hug when he looks like he had a long day.
It doesn’t always have to be sex to keep your man attracted to you.
Small touches here and there let him know you’re interested in him and want to be close to him.
Physical contact allows a man to feel emotionally attached to you.
8. Feel Needed, Not Controlled
When men feel like they can’t provide for you or your relationship, they begin to feel LESS attracted to you.
Whether it’s providing you with a cool new car, money, or a house.
He wants to feel like he’s needed and that he can provide those things for you.
Your girlfriend should want to grow old with you, not leave once you hit financial independence.
When you two can build that trust and understanding, your relationship will be set for life.
This will allow him to feel emotionally dependent on you.
Final Thoughts
Guys aren’t as complicated as you think when it comes to relationships.
They all want to feel emotionally safe, valued, and respected.
If you can provide your boyfriend with these 8 things, you’ll have him happier than ever.
As you read each point, I want you to think about how you can apply this to your relationship.
You don’t have to go overboard with these points but simply being conscious of them will change your relationship forever.
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