So you\u2019re looking to unravel the mysteries of building a long-term relationship with a man? Unfortunately, there isn\u2019t a code, number of steps, or sequence of words to magically get a guy to commit to a long-term relationship. The truth is that what men want in a relationship depends on what stage of life they\u2019re in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In college, the commitment to a long-term relationship is something lots of guys don\u2019t even fathom between the books and beer. The time of life between early- to mid-20s is filled with career and soul-searching, with a few hints of dating and finding someone to do it with\u2014but that\u2019s subject to maturity. (We all knew guys in college that acted older than they were and we all have friends who are well into their 30s or even 40s who still live the college lifestyle.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite those caveats, love blossoms at any time for men who are ready for relationships. If you\u2019re already in a relationship with a man or just started one, here are six things men want in a relationship to keep in mind as you grow in yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Communicate well and often.<\/strong> 2. Don\u2019t change him.<\/strong> 3. Be mindful of his space.<\/strong> 4. Respect his hobbies.<\/strong> 5. Be cool and don\u2019t move too fast.<\/strong> 6. Realize that the relationship is about both of you.<\/strong> It\u2019s true that the wants and needs are different for each man and person. What makes one relationship work doesn\u2019t always translate to another one. What\u2019s key is understanding what drives him, respecting who he is and what makes him that way, and being honest about what you want and need out of the relationship. It\u2019s safe to say men want what everyone does\u2014someone who wants to love and be loved in return. If you can give him that, chances are you\u2019ll be able to work through the rest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So you\u2019re looking to unravel the mysteries of building a long-term relationship with a man? Get the male perspective to see how it’s done. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":13752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[886,894],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dating-advice-women","category-healthy-relationships"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe adage goes that men don\u2019t like to talk about their feelings and I tend to agree with that. It\u2019s partially because a lot of us don\u2019t know how to talk about them. But by that same token, a lot of people\u2014both men and women\u2014don\u2019t know how to communicate about how they\u2019re feeling. So when it comes to speaking with men, the best solution is the direct, non-confrontational approach. Notice something\u2019s off? Ask what it is and also explain why you\u2019re asking. Feeling upset that a man didn\u2019t rise to the occasion? Let him know you\u2019re mad and why. And don\u2019t forget to let him know when you\u2019re happy and why too. Over the long haul, this kind of communication helps both people in a relationship learn about one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGoing into a relationship, people already have bad habits. Leaving the toilet seat up is probably one of the most clich\u00e9d complaints, but something like leaving clothes on the bedroom floor is more likely to come up at some point of a relationship. Small things aside, don\u2019t try to outright change a man. Instead, encourage him to grow and grow with him. Relationships are like a garden that needs thoughtfulness, time, love and the right kind of fertilizer. Trying to uproot what\u2019s already there will destroy it. Instead, cultivate the relationship over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFun fact about men\u2014they can feel smothered sometimes. When relationships start, there\u2019s this period of euphoria where both sides want to spend every waking hour with each other. But a relationship is made up of two individual people with their own interests and different lives. Respect him and yourself as individuals, give him space and take space for yourself. You\u2019ll both be the better for it, and so will your relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nEvery guy has something they\u2019re into\u2014video games, sports, hiking, and craft brewing may be one of them. Whatever it is, don\u2019t dismiss it. If he\u2019s been doing it for months and years, it\u2019s not more than just a silly interest. It\u2019s an aspect of his life that he kept around because it\u2019s important for one reason or other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe idea of a long-term, serious relationship is great. But it takes time for most men to get to a place where that\u2019s what they want. Trying to have the conversation about where you are in your relationship on one date or over the course of one week, is usually too much to take in all at once. Speaking with men or anyone about a long-term commitment is something that\u2019s best to bring up over time, instead of in one surprise \u2018we need to have a talk\u2019 moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIt takes two to tango, but it\u2019s not as fun if one person feels like they\u2019re being dragged across the dance floor. Everyone loves feeling validated in a relationship, and doing favors for your significant other is important to a man. But he should do things for you because he genuinely cares about you and wants to make you happy, not because he feels pushed, pressured, or coerced into doing what you want. Take the time to make sure the man you\u2019re with feels validated too. Do him some favors! Tell him he\u2019s important to you. Is it stroking a guy\u2019s ego? Maybe a little. Is it healthy to let him know the relationship and feelings you have are building toward something bigger? Definitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n