6 Ways to Help Boost Your Man’s Ego
Ladies, casting aside our anatomy, what is the biggest difference between a man and a woman? That’s right, men, no matter how successful or charming they are — young and old, rich and poor, weak and strong — all have very fragile egos. So much so, that I am certain that they can recover much faster from a kick to their testicles than a direct hit to their ego.
Part of this is due to the way that our brains are wired differently. Men have a greater need to feel like they are being appreciated for their attributes — be they physical, intellectual or sexual. They don’t do this to be difficult, petty or childish. Rather, it is part of something more innate — something that hearkens back to our very evolution as a species. Human males need to receive praise in order to rise through the ranks of their peers in the eternal quest to be the “top alpha male.” It’s true in chimps, in gorillas, and in homo sapiens.
Fortunately, in modern times, stroking a man’s ego no longer involves having to pick lice off his body or becoming subservient to him. Nowadays, a few nuanced gestures and you can have your man’s ego repaired faster than a NASCAR tire change. Here are six ways to help boost your man’s ego — whether you were responsible for bruising it in the first place, or not.
1. Compliment Him on How He Looks
Yes, men can be vain about their appearance. Every now and then make an effort to compliment him on his physique. If your man, let us say, is not the exercise type — compliment him on how younger or thinner his new haircut makes him look. Other compliments can also be casually sprinkled into a conversation, such as telling him how much you like his hands. When you do compliment a man on his hands, however, make sure you highlight their manliness and strength, not how smooth they are. His eyes are also a great physical attribute to compliment. Just look into his eyes and with a flirtatious grin tell him how much you love his eyes.
You can get a lot of leverage in boosting your man’s ego by making him feel confident that you are pleased with how he looks.
2. Show Him He’s a Great Lover — Just Don’t Fake It!
The fastest and most direct route to a man’s ego travels through his sexual performance. You’d be surprised how even the most confident of men can be overly preoccupied with their sexual prowess. To boost a man’s ego don’t forget to put the satisfaction he gives you on display. I don’t mean to fake it. Never do that. Men have a keen radar to detect such things from their partners — much more than we give them credit.
What I mean is to let his senses — especially those of sight and hearing — detect the pleasure that he gives you. Don’t go overboard, you don’t want the neighbors calling the cops believing there’s trouble next door — but you do want to be demonstrative of the pleasure you’re receiving. Letting loose like that in bed can be a big ego boost for him.
3. Ask Him to Use His Manliness to Help You
It doesn’t matter if your man can bench press 300 pounds, or if he needs both arms to lift a 5-gallon water bottle — all men like (and NEED) to put their manly muscles to use for the benefit or defense of their lady. This does wonders for their ego.
This can be accomplished by something as simple as asking your man to open a jar for you or to carry the sack of dog food in from the car. It also doesn’t have to be limited to feats of burly strength. You can ask him to help you fix something — your computer, change a flat, configure your new smart TV — anything that makes them feel like they are contributing to your wellness or happiness in a direct manner.
4. DO NOT Put Him Down in Front of Others
This tip is more preventative — keeping your man’s ego from deflating in the first place, but it is highly important, nonetheless.
Never put your man down in front of anyone, especially his friends or family. First, it just isn’t nice to put people down, ever — much less your partner. Second, men rely more on their ego for that extra boost of confidence that they need when they are around their male peers. It’s all part of that race to be the “alpha-male” of the group. Being put down by none other than his romantic partner is a huge blow to his ego. He’ll feel emasculated and think he lost face with his friends. Please, ladies — spare your man of this.
5. Make Him Feel Secure About Your Devotion to Him
Men need to feel secure about the love and affection that they receive from their partner. Otherwise, they can become insecure, jealous or depressed. Understandably, if they feel that the devotion of their partner is in doubt, their ego will suffer as well. A good way to give him a quick ego boost in this regard is by spontaneously telling him you love him. You can also flirt with him. Yes, I know, you already bagged him, but trust me — flirting with him is not only a turn on for him, it is an ego stroker as well.
Another effective way to reaffirm your devotion to him is to brag about him to other people. Hearing you praise his many attributes will lift his spirits and his ego.
6. Don’t Be a Disciplinarian
One of the most common routines that women fall into once they’re in a committed relationship is to slowly evolve into the “disciplinarian.” You know, telling him to pick up his clothes, fix the loose door knob, etc.
It’s hard, I know, but remember that you are his partner — not his mommy. He must take pride and care in his own appearance, as well as that of where he lives. Taking over that duty yourself deprives him of pride in accomplishment, which in turn — yes, you guessed it — creates an ego drop.
When your man does something that may seem routine — take notice. If he finally cleaned out the garage, greet him with an “it looks great” not an “it was about time.” Men need recognition even for the most mundane things in life. Giving him a “golden star” when he does something out of his own initiative will reinforce the positive behavior and boost his ego by being recognized. (I know, I know, it sounds remarkably similar to dealing with a pre-teen, but it works)
— Keep Strokin’ That Ego —
Stereotypically, women are presented as being the most emotionally needy in a relationship. I’ve always though that both men and women are equally as needy — just in different ways. While our emotional needs as women tend to be more layered and nuanced, men require attention in more direct or abrupt ways. While it may take some thought to figure out our complexities, when it comes to men — no matter how they try to hide them — it doesn’t’ require as much of a circuitous path to get to what needs attention. In many cases, it’s just a matter of tending to their egos. I hope this will help you with that.
