Why are we not getting our needs met when we seem to be going out of our way for everyone? Dr. Robert Glover talks to us today about Nice Guy Syndrome and why it’s actually not so nice for you and for those around you. This show will change everything you thought you knew about being Mr. Nice Guy.
Dr. Robert Glover
Dr. Robert Glover, author of No More Mr. Nice Guy: A Proven Plan For Getting What You Want in Love, Sex and Life.
Dr. Glover is an internationally recognized authority on the Nice Guy Syndrome. He is a frequent guest on radio talk shows and has been featured in numerous local and national publications.
Through his book, online classes, workshops, podcasts, blogs, consultation, and therapy groups, Dr. Glover has helped change the lives of countless men and women around the world.
As a result of his work, Dr. Glover has helped thousands of Nice Guys transform from being passive, resentful victims to empowered, integrated males. Along with these personal changes have come similar transformations in these men’s professional careers and intimate relationships.
Nice Guy Syndrome
Dr. Glover started discovering the dynamic of Nice Guy Syndrome in his thirties. He was in an unhappy marriage and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. He was doing everything to try to make his wife happy and avoid conflict. Somehow, no matter what he did it was never good enough. She was moody and had lost all interest in sex. Dr. Glover was bewildered why being a nice guy wasn’t working.
The problem was that being a nice guy on the outside made him hold in his frustrations. He became resentful and passive aggressive. His wife actually told him she’d rather be with an outright asshole than to be with him. He wanted to stay married so he went to support groups and therapy and began to understand what had happened to him.
A key piece to the development of Dr. Glover’s Nice Guy Syndrome was his childhood. He and his father were close and spent lots of time together, but there was one problem–his father was extremely moody. He would get angry for no reason and stay that way for weeks. Dr. Glover was determined not to be like his dad. He wanted to be different from all the jerks that women complained about. He would be the nice guy and women would desire him because of that.
Core of Nice Guy Syndrome
Nice guys live by three covert contracts. The problem is, no one knows they are operating by these unspoken rules.
- If I’m a good guy, I will be liked and loved (and women will desire me).
- If I meet other people’s needs without them having to ask, they will meet my needs without me having to ask.
- If I do everything right, I’ll have a smooth problem free life.
When nice guys don’t get the results they hoped for, they don’t give up. They tend to double-down and try harder. That’s when they need to look outside for help.
Some Nice Guy Traits
- seek the approval of others.
- hide their perceived flaws and mistakes.
- put other people’s needs and wants before their own.
- sacrifice their personal power and play the role of a victim.
- tend to be disconnected from other men and from their own masculine energy.
How to Reclaim Your Personal Power
- Don’t try to do it alone.
- Don’t try to do it with your intimate partner.
- Find a safe person or safe place (friend, therapist, coach, mentor, support group).
- Practice talking about things you’ve hidden about yourself.
- Keep connected with a tribe.
Resources
Grab a copy of The Dad’s Edge AUDIOBOOK on iTunes or Audible
GRAB A COPY OF THE DAD’S EDGE HERE
Originally published on The Good Dad Project
Photo courtesy of author