Men are simple, yet complicated. The roles of men and women in society have blurred a lot in a relatively short period of time. How are men being taught now versus then? Who are their role models? Are they strong, vulnerable or both?
I don’t think there is any one answer. What I do know is that despite what generation a man is from, there are a few really important things he needs to hear from his mate.
You make me feel safe and protected
This reaches into the core of the male being. Men have a need to feel like they provide for and protect their loved ones. If you think about the history of mankind, there has always been a high risk of barbarians at the gates coming to take and destroy. Men have traditionally been the soldiers who defend the city, the state, the family. If he is in a relationship with you, he sees you as his to protect.
You are a good man
Look around. How many good men do you see? Can we look to our celebrities, sports figures or world leaders as examples of goodness? It seems like as we get older, the fog lifts from our eyes and we see the flaws and faults in our icons.
If your man shines in the darkness, let him know. If you’re proud of the person he is, let him know. Not only will it make him feel like he’s on the straight and narrow path, but you would be helping to keep him there.
You make me really happy
In the state of human nature, lives have often had little value. The philosopher Thomas Hobbes said that every man is at war with every other man and that “the life of man (is) solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” He was great fun at parties.
It might be that in our society we seem to have plenty of things to make us happy, but comedian Jim Carrey is quoted saying, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
If, in this crazy world, your man manages to make you happy … that’s the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
