What men want in romantic partnership with a woman

While every man is unique, the vast majority of men in committed relationships tend to prioritize these three things the most:

1. Respect

Men deeply desire to feel respected by their partner. This means:

• Valuing his opinions and decisions (even if you don’t always agree)

• Speaking to him with admiration rather than contempt

• Trusting his ability to lead in areas where he excels

• Not belittling, nagging, or emasculating him in front of others

When a man feels respected, he’s more likely to show up with love, devotion, and a desire to make his woman happy.

Ladies, if your man rarely looks deeply into your eyes or smiles when he sees you, you are likely failing in this area.

2. Appreciation & Admiration

Men want to feel like their efforts are noticed and valued. They want to know:

• That what they provide (emotionally, financially, physically) is recognized

• That their strengths and character are admired

• That they are enough as they are, rather than being treated like a "fixer-upper" project

A simple “I love how you handled that” or “I appreciate you taking care of this” can go a long way in making a man feel like he’s winning in the relationship.

Ladies, if your man is lazy, unhelpful, lacks initiative (doesn't smoke weed) and doesn't do what he says he will do, you are likely failing in this area.

3. Peace & Playfulness

Most men don’t want constant emotional turbulence in their relationship. They crave:

• A woman who brings warmth and lightness into their life

• A partner who can have fun, laugh, and enjoy life with them

• A relationship that feels like a safe haven rather than a battlefield

This doesn’t mean avoiding hard conversations—it means knowing how to balance challenges with fun, positivity, and connection.

Ladies, if your man is moody and unaffectionat, always low energy, or seems always stressed or unnessessarily critical, you're likely failing in this area.

Ladies, reflect on these desires and honestly self-reflect on the way you're showing up in relationship to your man. Could you feel and show more appreciation? Could you see all the ways your man is deserving of respect as often as you see the ways he fails? Are your expectations of him and life grounded in rationality? Are there hard truths about life and its inherent difficulties you have been unwilling to accept? Are you leaving room for your man to be human? In what areas could you adopt a lighter perspective?

Some people reading this are going to be wondering, "Where did my wife's playfulness go? Why did we stop being playful with each other? Well I'll tell you. If your woman is chronically stressed for any reason, she will NOT be able to be playful. If she has so much on her plate that she doesn't have time to relax and unwind, or if she does take time to relax, she's worried about the things that are falling apart while she recharges, she CANNOT be playful. Therefore, if there is ANY way you can take ANY burden off of your woman's shoulders, DO IT. And do it consistently.

May miracles follow miracles,

Merianne