Think aloud
Congratulations! He must be so lucky to have you in his life. And now you’re wondering why I’ve said that. Well, you’re here and that means you’re trying to find the special formula on how to respect men the right way.
During our lifetime, we’re taught to respect certain things. Respect our family, teachers, doctors, friends, or guests who come to visit us.
We are considerate of other cultures; we respect and appreciate the things in our possession. And we do the same for other people’s belongings by not stealing.
The flag and our country’s law also have our esteem. And this is just a small part of the things we’ve been honoring throughout our lives.
By respecting someone or something, we show how valuable and important it is to us. Be it a person or an object, if we care about it, we’ll try to show our appreciation in some way.
Now, if you’re here, that means you want to learn how to do it the right way. I’m glad to hear that and so I’m going to promise you something: What you’re about to read will easily lead to a healthier relationship. Be ready to experience countless sunny mornings, even if it rains outside.
Is respect important to men?
Let’s be real for a minute. We all want to be respected, right? And if you’ve watched Freedom Writers, you must remember what Erin Gruwell had to say about respect. Need a little help remembering? Here it is: “To get respect, you have to give it.”
This quote should be your starting point in life. Not just when it comes to the subject of respect, but anything else that matters. You know, be the change you want to see in the world.
Okay, so if you want to be respected, then it means that this feeling is important to you. So why wouldn’t it be to men too?
In fact, some men value being appreciated more than being loved. If they feel that way, they’ll know that you care about them. That’s how they perceive it.
Look at it this way: The way you want to feel his love, that’s the way he wants to feel your respect.
Imagine your man doesn’t tell you he loves you and misses you, or doesn’t hug you and give you attention. You’d probably be sad. So if your man doesn’t feel like he has your respect, he’ll be unsteady too.
A woman’s respect shows her man that she trusts him. She believes in him, supports him, and thinks he’s capable and competent to fulfill his duties as a boyfriend, husband, father, etc.
13 ways you can respect men the right way
Okay, first things first. Think about what the word “respect” means to you. How would you show it to someone? Got some ideas? Great, here are some more tips on how to properly respect men.
1. Value his opinion
We all want to be heard and to speak freely about our opinions. Men and women both need to be surrounded by people who will value what they say. Therefore, if you love someone and want to be near them, it’s normal to seek their approval.
Men strive to have women who respect their beliefs and decisions. Someone who trusts their judgment. Don’t always argue to show you’re right, let him have his opinion just like he lets you have yours.
Two heads are better than one. Ask him what he thinks about something. Admit that he knows more about some topics than you do.
Of course, you’re both good at certain things. That should only make you proud because you have such a man next to you. Call him when you need help with making a decision and he’ll be there at full throttle.
By doing these things, you’re showing him that you appreciate his personality. That you care about what he has to say and you trust him. Even if you don’t agree with him or like his advice, respect that you have someone who’ll always be honest with you.
Always make decisions together and that’s how you’ll reach mutual respect.
2. Encourage and support him
Be his number one fan! Be the one who encourages him to become the best version of himself. Always point out the things he does well.
When was the last time you told him he’s done an amazing job? Whatever your answer is, do it today again. You’ll make him happy for sure. And not only that, his motivation bar will move up and your man will be ready to take on the world.
Wouldn’t it feel nice to be someone’s reason for happiness? Respecting your man means showing him that you appreciate what he’s been doing lately. And by telling him these things more often and helping him have more confidence and faith in himself, you’ll have a real catch next to you.
3. Respect him in public
If you’ve just had an argument and now you’re out together with your friends, don’t let them see that. Never disrespect your man in public. Leave your squabbles at home.
When you love someone, you’ll do everything to protect them. So be each other protectors by not letting the world use your personal problems against you.
If you’re among friends, don’t talk ill about your significant one. It’s easy to say some things when you’re irritated or angry, but bite your tongue instead. People love hearing about your problems, but only a few of them have sincere intentions.
You’re the one who knows your man the best. If you talk badly about him, he’ll eventually figure it out and be heartbroken. But not only that, but you would also be letting other people disrespect him. After all, if you don’t respect your man, why should they have to?
Here’s a little list to help you figure out how to behave properly:
– Don’t speak rudely to him in public.
– Refrain from talking ill about him in front of your family too.
– Don’t start unnecessary arguments in public.
– Don’t make fun of him.
– Never vent about your problems on social media.
– Share his accomplishments with your friends and family.
– Sincerely praise your partner in front of others.
4. Don’t manipulate him
Your man loves you, so don’t use his feelings to your advantage.
Always be honest with him. If you really love someone, you’ll try to stay transparent at all times. Building a relationship on trust is a big step towards a strong and eternal house of love.
Don’t play mind games. If you’re angry at him, don’t give him the silent treatment. You’ll be furious that he didn’t realize what he has done and he’ll be stressed out because he can’t figure out his mistake. It’s just a lose-lose situation.
Couples who are in healthy relationships don’t make each other jealous on purpose. Never use it as a means of getting something you want. Your man knows you’re attractive and interesting to other guys too, there’s no need to point that out.
Remember, jealousy is never your friend! So don’t open your door to her.
5. Show respect to his friends and family
Besides you, his friends and family are the ones who love and care about him the most. If they sense even a little bit of disrespect from your side, you’ll have a tough road in front of you. So if you want to respect your man, you’ll need to be careful around the people he treasures.
Put yourself in their shoes and it’ll be easier for you to figure out what might make them dislike you. Try understanding where they come from. Realize that you and your partner grew up differently, so make effort to get to know their family traditions and values.
Always stay polite. You don’t have to agree with everything they say, but agree to disagree on certain topics. As long as you stay respectful, it’ll all be fine.
Loving your man means loving him as a whole – and that includes his family. That is something that will always be a part of him.
So, show your interest. Ask about their family tree, let them tell you funny stories about your significant other, and seek advice from them. If you respect them, your partner will only care about you more.
Friends are a big part of our lives, so try to get to know his friends too. Invite them to your place, plan a trip, or arrange weekly pizza nights. Make new traditions with them.
And when you’re all enjoying your time together, make sure to respect the opinions, jokes, and different lifestyles they have. Speak honestly, but never judge them for who they are.
6. Know how to communicate
It’s a known fact that women usually have better communication skills. But never use them against your partner if you’ve had a bad day and his existence annoys you for an unknown reason.
I get you. Sometimes it’s just not a good day. And even if someone (read: your man) tries to help or even asks you about it, you’ll probably just burst at him.
Don’t do that. Don’t use your bad mood to bring back your past arguments and the problems that you’ve swept under the carpet.
Be careful about what you say. Women tend to focus on their own emotions so often they forget about men’s feelings. They can be hurt too, it’s just that they usually try to hide it as much as they can.
Show him that you care about his feelings, apologize if you’ve said something wrong, and refrain from doing it again. Stay patient with your man and help him express himself.
Here are some things that might help you:
– Don’t interrupt him. Even if you’ve got a great point, let him finish what he’s started.
– Try to think before you speak. Sometimes we say something we don’t actually mean. It’s all in the heat of the moment, so take your time to think about what you want to say.
– There’s no need for name-calling and yelling. This is rude and completely unnecessary.
– Use the “sandwich method.” If you need to address something negative with him, say something good first, then state the problem, and finish it with something uplifting.
– Always keep in mind your final goal. Always make sure to know what you want to achieve with the conversation.
7. Respect his hobbies
Ever since we were kids, we figured out that there are some things we like to do, and some that we’re not that fond of. As we grow up, these things might change, but it’s important that we always have them. We know them as hobbies.
To respect men, we need to respect the things they like to do. Maybe your man enjoys playing video games. Or he likes hitting the gym, reading books, watching movies, cooking, or fishing.
There are tons of things that he could love doing, but it’s on you to be the one to always encourage him to have hobbies that keep him happy.
Of course, you won’t tell him to play that game for 6 hours straight, but show him that you’re fine with his hobbies and help him draw a line. You can even use them to prepare a fun date or make a small gift. Or, you can even find a hobby that you both like and start it together when you both have some free time.
8. Give him some “me time”
We all love and need to have some time for ourselves. If you see he’s tired and just doesn’t feel like talking or doing anything at the moment, don’t be selfish. Leave him alone for some time, and he’ll later show you how much it means to him.
If you’re striving to have a healthy relationship, you need to be understanding of each other. Give him some space, and he’ll do the same for you when you need it.
Don’t immediately overthink it. Just like women, men can have bad days too. It doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s not interested or he doesn’t love you anymore. It’s the opposite! He loves you so much that he feels you’ll understand his needs.
9. Don’t treat him like he’s a child
He already has his mother. Don’t let yourself be his stepmom.
Girl, I get you. He has some pretty annoying habits. But as long as it’s nothing that’s threatening to your relationship, don’t be so bothered about it.
Honestly, we are easily annoyed. Maybe he leaves his wet toothbrush on the sink every morning, or he turns the toilet paper to the wrong side. But is that really worth fighting over?
Of course, you will be there to point out the things he’s doing wrong. But nobody wants to be shaped by another person. Okay, our parents are the ones who do that, but they mostly do it unintentionally throughout our childhood.
Your man is not a child anymore, he’s his own person. You already knew what you were getting yourself into.
10. Show him appreciation
It doesn’t matter if you have been together for a month or a few years, you should never forget to compliment each other.
Appreciate what he does. Tell him how proud you are of the person he is. Notice small details like you did at the beginning of your relationship. Leave little notes of affirmation around the house or in his car.
Thank him for specific things like washing the dishes, picking up the lunch, taking out the trash, choosing the movie, or suggesting a date. Everybody wants to feel recognized.
There’s plenty of fish in the sea, but he’s your clownfish, so he probably has many good qualities. Point them out from time to time, and make him feel valued, loved, and respected.
11. Don’t use his insecurities against him
All people have some form of insecurities. But it’s not something you’d make a PowerPoint presentation about. Usually, our significant others are the only people we’re comfortable with when it comes to these topics.
So don’t ever give yourself the right to use his insecurities against him. These are things that have a huge impact on mental health and we don’t want to mess with that.
Don’t joke around with his self-doubts. You might be trying to show that he’s perfect just the way he is, but that’s not how he’s going to perceive the situation.
Imagine you really don’t like how your hair looks, and you just can’t change it the way you want. Then one night, you get ready to go out, everything’s on point, even your hair. And someone only points out your hairstyle.
“Wow, your hair really looks amazing tonight.” Yes, the person had only good intentions and probably doesn’t even know about your worries. But what an insecure person might hear is “Oh, your hair usually looks pretty bad, but it’s nice tonight.”
So, be careful when talking about insecurities. It’s good to try and explain to your partner that you love everything about him, but be careful. Keep in mind that it’s difficult to change how someone perceives themselves.
12. Don’t talk badly about him to your kids (if you have any)
We already agreed that we say many things when we’re angry. Then later we regret saying most of them.
Always be careful, especially if your kids are around and if you’re the one who spends more time with them than your significant other. Children pick things up easily. If they hear you talk bad about their dad, they’ll believe you.
Their innocent souls are made to trust almost everything they hear. And you surely don’t want them to think their dad is incompatible, stupid, annoying, or anything you might accuse him of when you’re upset.
It would be very difficult to explain to them why you said that, and even if you succeed at doing so, they’ll still store it somewhere in the back of their mind.
13. Respect yourself
If you want him to respect you, you need to learn how to respect yourself.
There are so many girls who ruin their relationships because of their low self-esteem. Girl, if you’re together, he adores you and loves everything about you, even the things you don’t. If he tells you you’re pretty, and you just answer with contradictory remarks, he’ll feel like you don’t respect his opinion.
You’re worth it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently.
And never let a man (or anyone else) walk over you. Because if you don’t respect yourself and you let him behave however he wants, he might take you for granted. Always be your own priority.
Simple things you can do to respect men the right way
And now for some bonus ideas that can help you treat your guy the right way. It’s easy to respect men as long as you know what you’re doing. Ready? Here they are:
1. Tell him you love him.
2. Don’t forget your anniversaries or his birthday.
3. Don’t always blame him when something goes wrong.
4. Always respect his stuff – ask before moving or throwing away something.
5. Surprise him with something from his favorite brand.
6. Laugh at his jokes.
7. Always set new goals together.
8. Defend him if others speak ill about him.
9. Send him cute messages.
10. Give him short phone calls.
11. Make him his favorite lunch.
12. Save some energy for him at the end of the day.
13. Ask for his help.
14. Never compare him to your ex.
15. Listen to his dreams.
16. Don’t make fun of his interests.
17. Stay with him when he falls and help him get back up on his feet.
18. Admit when you’re wrong.
19. Don’t nag too much.
20. Keep your expectations of him reasonable and realistic.
Now you have everything you need to make him even happier. Love is a two-way street, so nothing you do will go unnoticed. Good luck!
