Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Relationships
Relationships

5 Steps to Being a Better Boyfriend

Posted byBy Stan | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Ghandi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Believe it or not, the same can apply to your relationship. It’s human nature to want to blame the other person when there are problems in a relationship, but what if you tried to change yourself a little bit? You may be surprised to see your partner respond in kind. Try one—or all—of the following things to be the best boyfriend you can be.

Be Communicative

One of the main things women complain about when it comes to men is communication. On average, women tend to have more of a need to talk about their feelings and thoughts than men do. They also have more of a need to hear men say what’s on their mind. Because of this, many women can take silence as unwillingness to share or as shutting them out. Realize that when she’s asking questions about how you feel or what you’re thinking, she genuinely wants to know.

Most men complain they don’t like to talk about their feelings as much, and they don’t feel the need to hash out (and re-hash) issues, so it may not be easy for you. Be open and honest, and you may even find you benefit from it once you get going. Even if you have to remind her that it’s hard for you, she’ll appreciate it if you try and feel closer to you.

Be Respectful

It’s hard to have a strong foundation for any relationship without respect. The woman in your life needs to be respected on multiple levels. She needs to be respected as a person; give her credit for her mind and her personal strengths. She needs to be respected as a lady; be respectful of her body and her choices.

She also needs to be respected as your partner; appreciate her contributions to the relationship and the role she plays in your life. It doesn’t matter whether you both subscribe to more traditional gender roles or not, she still needs to be respected as an equal partner in your life together.

Be Supportive

Give your lady the support she’s looking for. When she wants to talk about her problems, listen to them. Don’t tell her what to do…

Read more: MacKenzie Wright, Psychics Universe

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top