Men like to think that women are so complicated that it’s hard to figure out what we want from them or how they should act around us. Obviously that’s BS — being a good man isn’t a tough concept, but it does take a little effort and some common sense. The ones who stand out from the rest and are actually worthy of being our boyfriends just do a few simple things, but they make all the difference. Here are just a few of them.
- They text back within a reasonable time-frame. Good guys don’t withhold responses for days on end. You don’t get a “Hi” text out of nowhere after three days of slow ghosting you. They text back like an adult when you respond to or reach out to them. They know that communication is a simple concept and if they’re not into talking anymore, they tell you like a grown up. It’s that simple.
- They compliment you genuinely, not with crappy lines. They tell you that you’re beautiful or that they like the way you’re wearing your hair simply and in a straightforward manner — there’s no BS “hey baby” (insert cliche line) douchebag approach. They compliment you both because they want to and because they mean it — and you deserve to hear it.
- They make you laugh. The men who stand out are the guys who aim to make you laugh in their company, just for the sake of being able to see a smile on your face. They want us to be having fun just as much as they are, and they don’t seek just to satisfy themselves. It’s about building a solid connection, not charming their way into our pants.
- They’re honest about their feelings in their own way. Real men will talk about their feelings — I don’t care what anyone says. This BS logic that being a man means being a stone cold wall of zero emotions and that being honest and real means he’s a wuss is complete garbage. Whether they communicate in a more sensitive or lighthearted way, they communicate, period. They don’t hesitate to tell us they like you or they’re falling for you, because they’re secure with themselves and relationships in general.
- They don’t try to stick their penis in everyone. Guys who are always going from girl to girl are annoying AF, and aren’t even worth a second of your time. Good men aren’t sleeping with every woman that pays attention to them, they’re building a connection first and respecting your boundaries as they get to know you.
- They’re thoughtful. Nothing makes a man stand out more than paying attention to the things you like and enjoy. If he pays thoughtful attention to the simple things, he’s not only going to get your attention —he’ll keep it, too.
- They have their act together. It’s sexy as hell when a guy has his act together in life. He doesn’t need to be successful to be a successful adult, he just needs to have his ducks in a row. If a man shows stability in his work life, has a home he maintains himself (without his mother’s help) and knows how to handle life responsibilities, he’s definitely worth getting to know more.
- They accept your “crazy” (aka human) emotions. Real men understand that women aren’t perfect and that from time to time, you’re going to get pissed about stuff. Whether it’s your natural hormones, or something lame they did to upset you, they don’t shrug you off and tell you you’re crazy. They’re grown-ups and understand that people get upset from time to time.
- They work through conflict instead of running from it. If something goes down that you’re not happy about, and you confront them, they don’t shut down and avoid the problem like the plague. You sit down, talk and work it out to move past the issue. Men who say women bottle things up to throw in their face later are ones who never properly sought to resolve the problem in the first place. The men who stand out seek to resolve rather than to avoid.
- They aim to put a smile on your face. The real men who stand out from the crowd know that the way to your heart is to give you every reason to smile. It’s in the way they treat you, how they carry themselves, and how they let the relationship develop from a natural and unselfish place. They’re not seeking to only satisfy themselves, or to run from their own shortcomings when they can’t admit them — they behave like grown men. If you’re a man who wants to stand out from the crowd, please take note.