If you are a guy I know you want to be respected as well. It is a fact. Girls, here are a few things you should know if you want to be sure the guys you know are deeply aware how much you love and respect him.

1) Don’t use your body to manipulate him. If you only get one thing from this blog, let it be this. Girls have incredible power to control guys with their appearance. This is because guys are driven so intensely by what they see. Make him love you and see you as a person, not an object. When you flirt with him you can easily appeal to his lust, rather than who he is as a person. Dressing appropriately and refusing to flirt shows your boyfriend that you aren’t trying to attract other guys.

2) Ask his opinion. Guys want to be seen as a leader – someone who’s ideas are important. They want to know you are interested in what they think. He feels good when you ask him what you think and feel. Then taking the time to listen will make him feel deeply valued by you.

3) Be patient with him when he has a hard time expressing himself. Many guys have a difficult time communicating, especially their thoughts and emotions. Don’t try to put words in his mouth, you’ll only show him you think he doesn’t know what to say. You can however, repeat back to him what you heard him say, so you both are on the same page.

4)    Encourage and support him. Guys easily feel put-down by girls. When you cheer on your man, you are breathing life into his soul. Telling him you believe in him and support what he is attempting to achieve is a very powerful way to show your guy you respect him. When he feels that support from you, the confidence you are pouring into him will help him to feel invincible. Someone once said, “Behind every great man, is a great woman.”

5)    Respect yourself. There are many girls who are extremely insecure and are convinced they are not worth being loved or respected by others. So they end up damaging their relationships with guys because of their low self-esteem. They tend to be constantly asking their guy if they are still being loved by him. It’s very difficult for a guy to respect a girl who doesn’t respect herself, or sees herself as worthy to be loved. Jonathan had some great thoughts that must be included. “A girl must also respect herself; if a guy desires to date her or even just be her friend, he must like something about her. By not liking herself, she is also saying that her friend’s and/or boyfriend’s opinions of her don’t mean anything to her. If she returns compliments with contradictory remarks, she is not respecting the guy’s opinion, or his attempt to respect her.”

Girls, it’s valuable to realize how important this topic is in your relationship with guys. Showing respect to your boyfriend is the very best way you can show him that you love him. But it’s also true with all your relationships. May God bless you, as you give the men in your life a wonderful gift: the gift of respect. You’ll be glad you did.

This blog wraps up the respect series, be sure to watch for the relationship blog series.