Good man

Genuinely good people are hard to find these days. It is however our duties as human beings to be kind to one another, especially with our partners.

Some women have higher standards than others of course, but we all seek someone we can confide in and that person that we can share a life with. But what exactly constitutes a “good man”? There are some signs that indicate you truly are in the presence of an exceptional man.

1. He makes you feel beautiful (inside and out).

A quality partner will interact with you physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s usually easy to detect physical attraction, but always be cognizant of whether your partner gets just as excited about your thoughts and insights—or not.

2. He inspires you every day.

A strong and undaunted character is both admirable and inspirational. If your partner’s words and actions make you want to be a better person for them, for yourself, and for the greater world as a whole, then you’re in an ideal situation—and relationship.

3. He is very supportive.

Regardless of whether you want to go back to school after 20 years to get your Master’s degree, start a singing career or stay at home to raise a family, a good man will always support you and what you want out of your life. He will never discourage you or make you feel as though you can’t do what you set out to do. He will be beside you every step of the way, cheering on your victories and comforting you during your defeats.

4. He always seeks to improve himself.

Whether it be learning new things, developing a new skill set, reading a new book or watching a documentary, a good man who prides himself on continuous self improvement will always be intellectually challenging you and keeping your attention. He will be doing these things for himself, but the added benefit will be the positive impact it has on your relationship.

5. He makes you feel safe and secure.

This not only means that they will stick-up for you if need be, but also that you always feel safe and comfortable in your partner’s presence. Just the feeling itself will tell you your partner is worthy.

6. He pays attention to the little things.

Aside from holding doors door open, pulling out chairs, and offering a piece of clothing off their back when you’re cold, a quality partner will also take note of obscure comments and gestures, respond to them as needed, and care for you as needed without having to be asked or hinted at.

7. He is honest.

Not only will a worthy partner never lie to you, but they will also provide you with any information that they think or know you would want to have based on your questions or concerns.

8. He will never be abusive.

Perhaps the most important point of all. Whether it be mentally, emotionally or physically, a good man will never even think about being abusive towards you or harmful in any way. If this happens to you, please have the courage and respect for yourself in order to talk to someone or walk away immediately. No good person would ever act like this, and it will not get better on its own.

9. He is not afraid to talk about his feelings.

It can be difficult for some people to express their emotions, fears and even inner-most desires, but having the right person in our lives often helps to open those doors. A good man, while understanding of course that some things are to be kept private, will not hide things from you or bottle up his feelings, knowing that doing so will cause tension and frustration.

10. They’re selfless.

As mentioned, this means that they genuinely want to help you become happy, peaceful, and successful—completely regardless of whether or not they get anything in return once you become those things (or while you’re on your way toward them).

11. He will stand by you.

When a man commits his love and his time to someone, there are no stipulations or circumstances required. There will be good times and there will be not-so-good times. There will be challenges and unexpected situations that arise. But he will stay by your side and be your teammate through it all.

Of course, there is an asterisk to this. This does not mean you can disrespect your partner, lie or cheat. It does not mean you can betray his trust and expect him to stick around because he promised to commit to you. This point is about things the two of you go through together and him having the integrity to not walk away when times get hard.

Any man can be by your side on the sunny days. The real test of character is whether or not he will hold the umbrella over you during the stormy days.

Remember, if the person you are with puts in the effort to be this person for you, please let him know how much you appreciate him. No matter how kind someone is, there is no emptier feeling than giving your heart to someone who you feel takes it for granted.