I’ve battled with manners, so I thought while researching this subject, I would share what I have learned. My way of giving back. You can never have too much ammunition.
Number one on my list, in the order of the (incomplete) ABC’s of love is: Appreciate your lover. This means to recognize their full worth. Recognize and acknowledge it. Nothing makes a lover happier than a man appreciating and commenting on their worthiness. I’ve been trying this one out and I must say I love the results. So does my wife.
Build and destroy. Build them up and destroy the stereotype that all men are dogs. Encourage your lover. Support them mentally, as well as physically. Uplift them and inspire them with words of wisdom that spark your spouse’s interest in their individual success. Which in turn then becomes both of your successes.
Practice Caution. Play it safe. Contents under pressure. Be mindful and careful with their mind, body, and soul. Be careful not to damage any emotions. People are filled with emotions. One false move can unleash a fury unheard of before. Tread lightly. Be gentle, man.
Be debonaire, not a debutant. Know when you’re being sophisticated and charming or arrogant and pompous. An arrogant man is a borderline drama queen. Don’t be that.
Faithful. By definition, faithfulness is marked by fidelity to an original. Need I say more? Be faithful. Honesty and integrity go a long way with people.
Genuine. Don’t fake the move. Strive not to be deceitful. It is truly unattractive. A man wants a lover to be attracted to him. Right?. People respect and honor honest men. Be a man of your word, and your word be your bond.
Idealogical. Have a mind. Be thought provoking. More importantly, use that mind. Use it to be creative and stir up some spice in that love life. Contrary to popular belief, it is not corny to be creative, not at all.
Knightly. No, you don’t have to lay your jacket down over a puddle. But, you do want to practice awareness. Open a door for them. Carry something for them. Be creative with it. Turn the lights down low and light some candles. This is one of those times the small stuff goes a long way with a lover.
Majestic. Show and prove your confident ways by having or displaying great dignity. Be a majestic man with a charismatic personality.
Natural. ‘Being talented through inherited qualities.’ The best way to be great, is to be great at being you. Naturally. No filters. Be real with the lover in your life. Be genuine at all times.
Obligated. The Man Laws are not just some made up set of rules to keep guys in accordance with each other. They are standards to follow to keep the course of manliness. Besides, it is your obligation to treat that lover special.
Passionate. This is having or expressing strong emotions and sharing feelings while being most empathetic.
Regal. Belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler. In other words, majestic, imperial, or royal.
Stylish. Being in accordance with the current social fashion. A man cannot be a fashion misfit and expect respect. Dress the part. Who doesn’t want a man that can make them feel special while looking good doing so?
Universal. Worldwide scope. Not just one-sided. Go multi dimensional and be adaptable to various purposes. Have you ever heard of an all American athlete? Exactly.
Valued. Held in great esteem. To be respected in one’s community and abroad. Admired from city to city, backyard to backyard. Remember how all the girls liked the tough guy in the neighborhood? It wasn’t because they were scared of him. It was because they respected the fear he planted in everyone else. Be a guy who demands respect in an adult manner without using fear.
Youthful. ‘Don’t nothing get old but clothes. And even they come back in style.’ Be not only young at heart, but young in spirit. Go out for walks and such together.
These qualities are the cornerstone of this man’s belief system when it pertains to love.
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Well. Erik. My apologies if I failed to speak directly to you. Please, let me know who to include you as a part of the discussion I have in my follow up article.
If your title is “…significant other [or spouse]…” then I expect you to be less 1950’s and more 2016… This is bigoted, backwards, antigay, Anti-Female, etc… Tagging it with “breaking masculinity stereotypes” is further proof of backwards 1950’s style thinking and absolutely not what I’ve come to expect from the Good Men Project. I’m sharing this on Twitter so you can expect more responses like mine.
Well. Erik. My apologies if I failed to speak directly to you. Please, let me know who to include you as a part of the discussion I have in my follow up article.