Do you know what are the things men want from you?

If you need a crystal globe to understand what men want from you, I’m here for you. But hey, you’re not alone in this. While women tend to be considered complicated and sometimes hard to deal with, men tend to be rather simple in the emotion game, but that’s not always true.

Men want many things from us, but they won’t always tell. It might be due to social conditioning, lack of communication, trust issues, poor self-image, etc. I’ve talked to several men and asked them anonymously what they want from their partners, and they shared some of their desires with me. And as you know, I don’t like to gatekeep, so I’m going to tell you everything I know.

So, without further ado, let’s spill the tea! These are all the things men want from you, but they’re too shy to tell! Let’s begin!

1. Respect

I know what you might be thinking: understandably, everyone wants to be respected, so why is this considered one of the things men want but don’t talk about? First of all, men and women have different feelings regarding what respect means.

Think about those times when you complain about how your day went and what problems you currently have. Men typically have a problem-solving attitude, and they might start offering solutions right away.

On the other hand, you probably don’t want him to take care of your problems for you, but you want him to listen. The moment you tell him you don’t need his help (of course, that depends on what tone you use), he might feel disrespected and unappreciated.

Even though that was the last thing you meant, our wonderful male partners often perceive respect, love, and appreciation differently than we do. If you disapprove of their thoughts, ideas, actions, or style, they might take it personally and find it challenging to share their thoughts with you.

Of course, you don’t have to walk on eggshells during every conversation, but you need to be honest with your man. Tell him calmly and beautifully that you appreciate his input, but know that you simply want to vent. See how things go from there because it might save you a communication error.

2. Room to chase

One of the things men want from you is to allow them to chase you. You’ve probably heard many times that males are hunters and they like to pursue women, and that’s true. On the other hand, it’s also true that they enjoy it when women take the lead, but we’ll talk about it later.

Now let’s go back to the chasing part. If you’re constantly the one who texts, calls, asks for a kiss or hug, or plans dates, you don’t give him enough space to feel the urge to reciprocate and pursue you. We’re not talking about playing games and writing down who initiated what. It’s about your significant other knowing that he’s consciously choosing you and that he’s not convinced or pushed into anything.

Change your attitude and allow things between you to flow freely. For instance, if you’re the one who always kisses your man goodnight or good morning, try to stop for a day and allow your partner to come to you.

He will definitely do it because you won’t be there to pursue him, and he’ll miss you. If he’s into you, he’ll do anything in his power to get you, but give him space to chase you now and then.

3. Accepting his help

One of the things men want from you is to accept their help. I know you are perfectly capable of doing things by yourself, but accepting your SO’s help has nothing to do with your independence. We all want to feel needed from time to time, and your man will show you his love and care through action rather than directly telling you how much he cherishes you.

This is nothing like being a pretty damsel in distress. It’s more about how your partner wants to treat you and show you that he’s there for you when you need it, whether it’s carrying your grocery bags, changing your tires, or helping you solve a problem. These actions are his way of letting you know he wants to make your life easier and more pleasant. He only tries to be useful, and instead of going all alfa-woman, you can say thank you and appreciate it.

4. Compliments and appreciation

A man will most likely never ask you to give him additional compliments since he doesn’t want to come out as needing his ego stroking. However, everyone needs reassurance and appreciation, and therefore, one of the things men want from their lovers is to be complimented.

He probably tells you nice things more often than you tell him, whether it’s for your appearance, your nice outfit, a hilarious comment you made, or a goal you scored at work. But hey, a little ego-stroking is fine. Tell him what you like about him, how much you love it when you do something, how he’s such an important part of your life, and whatever cheesy thing you want to share.

These compliments and signs of appreciation will make him feel cherished and will help him feel more confident. Moreover, the more you compliment him on his qualities, the more you’ll notice them in him.

If you feel like you’re in a rut and your dating life is no longer exciting, check out this card game. It’s nice and fun, and it will give you lots of ideas on how to spice things up.

5. Intimacy variety

Okay, okay, now we’re getting the physical things men want from you: variety in the bedroom. Having the same routine over and over again can be boring for both of you, which is why you have the freedom to spice things up.

Grab his hands and kiss him when he doesn’t expect it. Put a pretty revealing outfit on, try new things in the bedroom, ask him what he wants, and surprise him with a good old-fashioned special kiss (in the hidden area, I mean), and he’ll be on his toes in seconds. Moreover, the more you surprise him, the more he’ll want to reciprocate, so that’s always a plus to keep the spark and fun alive.

6. Take the lead

We’ve previously talked about how males like to chase, but sometimes one of the things men want from you is to take the lead and surprise them. It’s always nice to mix things up, so if he’s always the one to initiate your bedroom activity, why not try to start it?

Women aren’t the only ones who fear rejection, even if we’re talking about long-term relationships. Men love confident women who know what they want and aren’t scared to go for it (but the same goes for us too, right?), so it will be s*xy as h**l to see you take the lead and surprise him with something only you know how to do.

7. A little bit of space

Speaking of things men want from you, this one is important and sometimes overrated. We’re so used to thinking that we need to be with one another 24/7 when that’s simply exhausting. All couples need time to miss one another and to have their activities, and that could make your relationship happier.

You’ve probably heard about the concept of a “man cave” before, and it is as true as it can be. While you might reach out to your girlfriends to socialize, talk about your problems, have fun, and give each other a piece of advice, men might need to spend some time alone or with their male friends.

It’s not that he doesn’t like you anymore; it’s just a natural response. Nobody wants to be suffocated in a relationship, and let’s be honest: you sometimes want to breathe your own air, not yours and your partner’s air.

Focus on your goals and dreams, and allow him time and space to focus on his. You’re on this journey together but don’t forget that you both have your own lives, and space is much needed in every relationship.

Do you know any other things men want but might not tell you? Share them with us in the comments. If you enjoyed reading this article and you want to check out something else from Detangle Love, here’s a good post for you: 7 Surprising Ways Women Unintentionally Push Men Away