Some say actions speak louder than words, but it’s not always completely true. In a relationship, it’s natural to want to hear him say how he feels as well as show you. You need a guy who’s willing to speak his mind and open his heart by saying these 12 things — if he doesn’t, he’s not the guy for you.
- “You’re amazing.” You should never end up with a guy who treats you like you’re ordinary. Know your worth and know that your guy should vocalize to you clearly and frequently just how much he loves, appreciates, and values you. When a guy says this and means it with all of his heart and soul, you’ll see it in his eyes and there’s no better feeling.
- “I’d love to take you out.” In the beginning, it’s key to choose a guy who’s forthcoming and direct. You want someone who has no problem letting you know he’s interested and wants to romance you in a proper way. None of that Netflix and chill BS — if he can’t be bothered to legitimately date you, walk away.
- “Let me get that for you.” Whether he means the door, something heavy, or paying for the tab on the first date… you want a gentleman in your life. If he doesn’t have manners to spare, you’re messing with the wrong dude. You deserve someone who picks you up when you need it, literally and figuratively.
- “Tell me about yourself.” One of the worst qualities a lot of dudes seem to have is their tendency to talk about themselves incessantly. They’re so self-absorbed and narcissistic, it’s insane. You want a man who takes a genuine interest in who you are and what you have to say. The less he speaks about himself, the more humble and grounded he is.
- “I respect you.” This is so, so important. Without respect, you really have nothing. Your relationship will crumble and fall without the foundation it needs. You, as a human being, always deserve respect from everyone. You’d damn well better get it from the man you date! His willingness to openly declare this to you is essential.
- “I believe you.” Trust is another non-negotiable element of a successful relationship. If your guy doesn’t believe what you say, there’s very little you can do about it. It’s maddening and frustrating. You want a partner who knows that you’re trustworthy and wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. If you give him your trust, you deserve his in return.
- “You’re everything I’ve always wanted.” A man who tells you this is a dream come true. You need someone who isn’t afraid to reveal the depth of his affection. If he doesn’t look at you in the way that you always hoped your love would, he’s not the right guy. If he doesn’t tell you that he knows how special you are and that he’ll always do his damnedest to keep you, let him go.
- “I choose you.” Your guy should let you know that being with you is an active choice on his part. It’s not because you were the first girl he met, because you made it easy, or because he’s too lazy to break up with you. He is an independent man standing on his own and choosing you to be his partner. That’s invaluable and he should be able to verbalize that choice.
- “What girl?” He barely notices other women because he only has eyes for you. He’s so in love with you and captivated with you that the two of you might as well be completely alone in a crowded room. If you bring up something about another woman, he won’t have noticed because he wasn’t checking out other girls. He was looking at you.
- “I will always be here for you.” The two of you will go through some tough times. That’s life. You will have disappointments and obstacles, but what matters is the way in which you deal with them. You need a man who will support you through any difficulty and stick by you even when stuff gets real. If he doesn’t say this and really mean it, he’s not the guy.
- “I’m listening.” Sometimes you just need to vent. You don’t want to be fixed. You don’t want advice. You want to talk so that you can get your thoughts out of your head and make some sense of them. If he understands this and lets you use him as a sounding board, he’s a keeper. He always wants to hear anything you have to say because he values you.
- “I love you.” He should say this often, and he should mean it every single time. Often this phrase is so casually tossed around that it loses its value. A special man understands its importance. He makes it count when he says it and he makes sure that you know it’s real. If there’s no true feeling behind the words, you need to find a guy who loves you with a deeper passion.