Today we finish up with this weeks blog topic, adapted from W. Bruce Cameron’s article (reference below). What do you think of the tips so far?

“What a manly sweater!”

Cameron suggests that men want to hear words that sound masculine. This makes men feel good, and explains that giving compliments are like giving gifts; It’s important to give the gift that the Receiver of the gift would like, not the gift that the giver prefers to give! So… Simply put, telling the man in your life that you think he looks “cute”, probably won’t make him feel much like a man. And, as Cameron states, he wants to feel like a man! This doesn’t mean that the man in your life doesn’t have a feminine or sensitive side, it just means that this kind of compliment might not make him feel his best. And for those couples who struggle with the female knowingly demasculating their male counterpart (whether it’s through put-downs or other derogatory comments), remember that you are directly impacting your ability to feel heard, respected, and understood, as well!

Source: “How to Get Through To A Man” by W. Bruce Cameron from O’s Guide to Life; The Best of O, The Oprah Magazine p. 211-212

Joleen Watson, MS, NCC, is a therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. She enjoys doing marriage counseling, relationship counseling, couples counseling, and individual counseling.  Imagine Hope also specializes in family, child and adolescent counseling and serves Indianapolis area including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Noblesville, Zionsville, Westfield, and Fishers.