18 Ways To Help Him Feel Loved And Accepted
If you're in a relationship, whether new or long-term, you may be wondering how to help your partner feel loved and accepted. These can be important aspects of any romantic partnership and increase the connection between both individuals. Being a healthy, supportive significant other can help your partner feel safe and supported in the relationship. In this article, we’ll be exploring 18 different ways you can show your partner the love you have for him and help him feel accepted as he is. By caring about your partner's needs, wants, and desires, you can bring happiness into both of your lives, and, with the right tools, you can foster a positive relationship with your partner - one he can value.
Be Spontaneous
Being unpredictable and spontaneous every once and a while can be fun for you and your partner and allows you to experience new things together. Instead of following a typical routine and engaging in predictable weekend activities, try switching it up. For example, when he gets home from work, try taking him out to a new restaurant rather than cooking. Surprise him with his favorite drinks or dessert and suggest a trip that you think you’d both enjoy. Spontaneity can even spice up a relationship that has fallen into a rut.
Express Love Daily
People express love differently and knowing how your partner prefers to receive love can be beneficial. Taking the 5 Love Languages test together can help you form a closer bond and understand each other on a deeper level. You can show love in many ways, beyond saying "I love you." You could give him a back rub after a long day, cook him a nice dinner, or take the time to listen to his thoughts and feelings. You might write him a love letter, clean his car for him, or buy him a gift that he’s been eyeing. There are a million different ways to show you care that can make him feel valued, loved, and supported.
Be Open And Honest
Honesty is a must in any healthy relationship. If you want to foster healthy communication, try to be open about your feelings. Honesty isn't just about not lying, but also about speaking up when something is wrong. Expressing your feelings, even when it’s difficult to do so, can give your partner insight into who you are and what's important to you. Being open with him can allow him to be vulnerable with you in return.
Have Open Communication
Open communication can be important for a healthy relationship. Communicate with your partner often and productively. Even when something seems small, keep the lines of communication open. Not talking about issues can often lead to larger arguments in the future. Communication isn't just about talking to your partner. It's making sure you're understood and that you understand your partner as well. Healthy communication is open, honest, frequent, and involves both talking and listening. Hearing what he has to say without judgment or defensiveness can make him feel both loved and accepted.
Make Compromises
Be prepared to compromise. Try not to worry about who is right or gets their way, but rather what can bring the two of you closer. By working as a team through conflict, you can instill trust in your relationship. Though it may not always be easy to find common ground, it can be incredibly rewarding. By taking responsibility, listening, and engaging with your partner in healthy ways, you can help him feel more comfortable and open with you.
Cultivate Positive Qualities
Positive qualities could include kindness, affection, patience, friendliness, and understanding to help your partner feel loved and accepted by you. By treating him with respect, you can help your partner feel like he can be his authentic self. Remember that everyone has bad days, and it's not your responsibility to force a smile on your face if that isn't how you genuinely feel. However, practicing gratitude and keeping a positive outlook on life can improve your life as well as your partner’s.
Take Care Of Yourself
Taking care of yourself can involve lots of different steps and goes beyond how you look and feel physically. By taking time to be independent, practice self-care, and do things that make you feel positive about yourself, you can look after your mental and emotional health. The healthier your relationship is with yourself, the more you can offer in your relationship with another person. Taking care of yourself can help you take care of your significant other, which could include being there for them emotionally or otherwise.
Accept His Friends And Family
Your partner’s friends and family are an extension of him. Particularly if he’s close with them, they might be an incredibly important aspect of his life, happiness, and health. Even if you’re not fond of his friends and family, it can still be vital to support those relationships. Accepting and respecting them can, in turn, help him feel accepted and loved. Allow him to have agency in his life and give him the space he needs to maintain the interpersonal relationships that he wants.
Be His Best Friend
The word “best friend” can carry a lot of different meanings. Being your partner’s best friend could mean being available to offer comfort and discussion when you feel emotionally able. It could look like offering your support when he’s going through a challenging time. Making yourself available to him when he needs you can help him feel loved and accepted in the relationship. When your relationship is built on a foundation of friendship, it can help it thrive.
Handle Conflict Together
Disagreements happen between couples all the time. It may not matter how often you fight, or what you fight about, but rather how you repair after conflict. It can be important to engage in disagreements in a respectful manner. If you say hurtful things to your partner in a moment of emotional intensity, it can be difficult to recover. Sometimes, it may be helpful to wait for a more appropriate time to discuss certain topics, but it’s essential to remain open and honest. Remember that you two are a team. Disagreements can be handled together to find a solution and not to "win."
Maintain Your Independence
Though you may love spending as much time as possible with your partner, some space can be healthy in any relationship. By doing things on your own with friends and family, you give each other the chance to have independence within your committed relationship. If you feel anxious without your partner or that you can’t have fun without them, it may be helpful to seek out counseling. Healthy relationships feel assured and bonded.
Listen
Part of being an effective communicator is being an active listener. By really listening to your partner's thoughts, you can create an atmosphere of love and comfort. Instead of listening to respond, try to listen in order to understand. When your partner sees the effort you’re making, it can help them feel loved, no matter what you’re discussing.
Be Respectful
In order for a relationship to be healthy, it can be important for both partners to respect one another. Showing respect means you don't belittle him, berate him, or abuse him in any way. When you and your partner show respect for each other, it can create a loving environment that nurtures both of you.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse in any form, reach out right away to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) for immediate support, advice, and assistance.
Be Intimate
Frequent intimacy with your partner can help build a stable and loving relationship. Intimacy doesn't just mean sex. It also means being affectionate in other ways, such as through hugging, cuddling, kissing, talking, and spending quality time together. Holding hands when you walk down the street, leaning into each other, or even a gentle squeeze while out to dinner can also be forms of intimacy.
Engage In His Interests
Most couples have some type of compatibility in at least one area of life. However, that doesn't mean you both like all of the same things. Still, you can participate in his interests and show you care about them. For example, if he likes sports, take him to a ball game. If he likes comics, take him to Comic-Con. Putting his interests first at times can help him feel loved.
Show Your Appreciation
Try to show your appreciation for your partner by letting him know what he’s doing well in the relationship. Maybe you’re grateful that he always wants to spend time with you, that he helps you with the household chores, or that he always knows how to comfort you when you’re feeling down. When you're appreciative of his actions, it can make him feel seen and valued.
Stay Present
It can be easy to get distracted, especially with phones, laptops, and tablets at your fingertips. However, being present in the moment can let him know just how special he is to you. When he’s talking, give him your full attention. Try to engage with his thoughts and feelings instead of being dismissive of them.
Ask Him How You Can Love Him
Sometimes, the easiest way to find out how your partner feels loved and accepted is to ask. After all, he knows himself best. You can say something like, “How can I make you feel more loved this week?” or “What makes you feel safe and accepted by me?” This takes the guesswork out of loving him.
Online Counseling With BetterHelp
Relationships can be fulfilling, but they can also be complex and confusing. Whether you’re facing conflict or trying to figure out how to make your partner feel more loved, it may be helpful to confide in an online therapist. BetterHelp is an online counseling platform that allows you to connect with your therapist anytime, anywhere. You can choose to speak with them through video chats, phone calls, or in-app messaging, depending on your preferences and needs. Online counseling can be ideal for those with busy schedules, and you can meet at a time that doesn’t interfere with the time you and your partner spend together.
The Efficacy Of Online Counseling
Online counseling can be beneficial for individuals and couples alike for a variety of concerns. In one study, researchers found that couples therapy delivered via videoconferencing can have many benefits for the relationship. Results showed “improvements in relationship satisfaction, mental health, and all other outcome scores over time.”
Counselor Reviews
"Rachel is awesome! Gently encouraging and very responsive. I prefer to communicate via messages, and I love that that is an option. I feel that she understands me and is never judgmental. The stress from work impacts my partner less since I've been talking to Rachel - I am managing my stress and insecurity better."
"I would refer Helen to anyone that would need to speak to a counselor. She listens and gives excellent advice. My husband and I are the closest we've ever been."
The Takeaway
Romantic relationships can be a beautiful thing, and by continuing to put care and effort into your relationship, you can set yourself up for success. A counselor can also help to implement certain tips, like improving communication and confidence. This can allow your relationship to become healthier and more fulfilling. Taking the first step with an online therapist can improve your relationship and foster a sense of love and acceptance within it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I make him feel loved and accepted?
Though the tips above can be an effective place to start, one of the easiest ways to find out is to ask him. Communication can be vital to any relationship and asking how your partner feels loved can help you understand him on a deeper level. These kinds of conversations can help you feel at ease with each other and develop a stronger sense of trust in your relationship.
How do I make him realize my value?
When seeking dating tips, it's common to wonder how to keep a person interested. Sometimes people don't feel valued in a relationship and wonder if their partner is losing interest. A healthy love life includes being with someone that appreciates you.
If you have started to feel like you aren't being valued in the relationship, it can be important to open a dialogue. Couples counseling can be a productive way to express your needs with a mental health professional and discover new ways your partner can help you feel appreciated.
How do you make him regret hurting you?
It can be challenging to focus on your love life if you've been hurt by someone you love. You can't control another person's actions or emotions, no matter how hard you try. All you can do is express the pain you felt and find ways to move on for yourself. If you decide to move forward as a couple, you may need to find solutions together to prevent it from happening again.
Focusing on what you've learned from the situation, spending time with people you love, and finding ways to grow can be important parts of healing from a hurtful circumstance.
How do I stop him from taking me for granted?
If he is not considerate of your needs, or you feel like he doesn't treat you right, speak up about it. What are your boundaries for the relationship? Are you meeting your needs or putting his before yours? Let him know how you feel and be direct with your feelings. Communicate it in a way to help him understand how you feel. Set boundaries to ensure you meet each other's needs to encourage a healthy relationship. If he is not willing to work with you or seems as if he doesn't care, it might be time to reevaluate your relationship.
How do you test a guy to see if he loves you?
Testing, in general, is not a healthy concept for a long-lasting relationship. When you set certain unsaid expectations, you create the opportunity for your partner to disappoint you without realizing it. When trust is established in a relationship, love can be felt and shown in many ways.
Does silence make him miss you?
One of the biggest misconceptions in dating is that distancing yourself from a partner is an effective way to check how strong their feelings are for you. Though the highs and lows of dating can sometimes be exciting for people, these kinds of behaviors can be detrimental long term. Playing "dating games" can leave you feeling disappointed and unappreciated if your partner doesn't respond in the way that you hoped. If you're hoping to be in a healthy, committed relationship with someone, establishing communication and being honest about your feelings is often the way to go.
How do you make a guy realize he's losing you?
If you feel yourself struggling to stay connected to the person you're dating, one of the most productive ways to work against it is to talk about it. By telling your partner how you feel and coming to the conversations with solutions, your partner may be able to adjust their actions to make you feel appreciated. If you still feel like your needs aren't being met after open dialogue and expressing your needs, then it may be time to reevaluate the relationship. Everyone deserves to feel loved and accepted in ways that make them feel appreciated.
What makes a man fear losing you?
No one likes to feel afraid that they are losing their partner, and the person you're with is no exception. Instead of trying to instill fear in your relationship - which can cause conflict and be unproductive - focus on ways to feel firm. If there are certain actions you would appreciate him doing, express that. Give him the chance to help you feel loved in the way that you need. If you're struggling in your relationship or feel insecure about your partner's feelings, couples counseling can be an option to help you get on the same page.
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