4 Ways to Spark More Romance in Your Relationship

Ladies, have you been wishing your husband were more Prince Charming and a little less Homer Simpson lately? Been daydreaming that someday he would plan a special evening for just the two of you? But then is your next thought, “He doesn’t even care”?

Well, you might be surprised to learn that he does care -and he deeply wants to please you. During my research for For Women Only, I asked men if they desired romance in their relationship for themselves and I was shocked that 84% said yes!

Did you hear that?

8 out of every 10 men desire romance, just as much as we do. So, while your man might not seem romantic in the way you would like, he still wants romance!

Tweet this: “While your man might not seem romantic in the way you would like, he still wants romance!“

What’s holding him back? Maybe he’s trying but you don’t interpret his attempts as romantic. Men and women sometimes define romance differently, so the signals between sender and receiver can get crossed.

Or—even more likely—maybe he’s concerned that he won’t please you. My research shows that a huge majority of men think they can put together a romantic event, but almost half aren’t confident that you’ll like it. And also for the huge majority of men, the prospect of failure is their most painful feeling. In other words, your man is probably worried that if he tries something, he’ll see signals that he didn’t get it right… and he knows that will hurt.

Tweet this: “Your man may be worried that if he tries something, he’ll see signals that he didn’t get it right- and that will hurt.“

So what can you do to encourage your reluctant Romeo? Here are four ways to give him inspiration, encouragement, and confidence to up his romantic game:

1. Recognize his romantic intentions.
The first step is fine-tuning your awareness. What you interpret and define as romantic might be different than your husband. For a man, enjoying “play time” with his partner – just spending time together, whether watching tv, sharing an activity, or going somewhere together, is truly romantic. So, don’t always be looking for flowers and candlelight. Expand your definition of romance, and key into his.

2. Give him a chance to practice.
Though he may feel tentative and uncertain, your appreciation will foster boldness on his part to continue his efforts. Translation: don’t gently tease him for not quite getting the right amount of cheese on the pizza he tried to make from scratch for dinner, or for picking a sports bar when he planned a date night out. As you show only appreciation and withhold criticism, he’ll be more confident. And at that point, you’ll have the foundation to give feedback that won’t be seen as criticism. (“I love this sports bar – so fun! Since we’ve come here three times in a row, you know what I’d love at some point? A seafood place on the lake or something. That would be cool, too.”) As he sees what you like, you’ll enjoy more experiences that are tailored to your likes & dislikes, and he’ll develop confidence that he’s pleasing you. That’s a win-win!

3. Appreciate romantic gestures of all sizes.
Make sure your man knows that every experience doesn’t have to top the last one!  Guys can get paralyzed by that idea.  Make sure he knows that a spontaneous outing to get ice cream (“just because!”) can have as much impact as an over-the-top effort planned months in advance. Remember, even your man’s smallest act of kindness demonstrates how much he loves and cares for you.

Tweet this: “Remember, even your man’s smallest act of kindness demonstrates how much he loves and cares for you.“

4. Entice him.
The icing on the cake to encourage your man’s romance will be flirtatious interactions with you – the kind that both inspires and reflects romance. If you’ve been together for a while, it’s possible that you’ve settled into a kind of friendly companionship. Be the sultry soulmate again. Make yourself the kind of friend – both outside the bedroom and in it – that your man constantly wants to pursue. For most men, sex is a big part of romance and it means being close to you on all levels. And what’s more romantic than that?

Tweet this: “Make yourself the kind of friend – both outside the bedroom and in it – that your man constantly wants to pursue.“

Wherever your husband falls on the romance scale, it’s a pretty sure bet that he wants to please you. Recognize that about him, and appreciate his desire and efforts toward romance… and you’ll see romance a lot more often.

Tweet this: “Wherever your husband falls on the romance scale, it’s a pretty sure bet that he wants to please you.“

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Helping people thrive in life and relationships is Shaunti Feldhahn’s driving passion, supported by her research projects and writing. After starting out with a Harvard graduate degree and experience on Wall Street, her life took an unexpected shift into relationship research. She now is a popular speaker around the world and the author of best-selling books about men, women, and relationships. (Including For Women Only, For Men Only, and the groundbreaking The Good News About Marriage).

Her newest book, The Kindness Challenge, demonstrates that kindness is the answer to almost every life problem, and is sparking a much-needed movement of kindness across the country. Visit www.shaunti.com for more.

This article was first published at Patheos.