When you need to man up!

Why? Because if you won’t, some other guy will. In this age of metro-sexual styling, the concept of what is manly has become rather confused. Women now expect you to have a sensitive side and not to be afraid of showing it. The men have lost all idea of what it is to be a real man, and you find little difference between the male and female behavior in most circumstances. And yet there are still times when a woman expects some old-fashioned, testosterone-fueled male behavior, when you need to show that ‘real-man” side of you. There are times when she will expect you to act like a man. But how do you do it when you don’t even know what it is like to man up? Here are a few pointers: You should never let anyone be disrespectful to your lady. If anyone acts inappropriately towards your lady, a stranger or even someone you know, you need to confront them. Talk to them. Insist that they apologies to your woman. Most of the time, the transgressor will say sorry and move on. True, your girlfriend might be capable of standing up for herself, but she will appreciate that you care enough to ensure she is treated properly. At work, your masculine qualities will ensure you earn respect. Stand up for yourself and your ideas. Learn how to communicate without being confrontational. Be confident without being cocky, be firm and be a man of principles. Confidence and eloquence will go a long way to helping you reach your career goals and making your family proud. Every woman desires a man who is respected. When dealing with a crisis, take charge. Step up and take control of the situation. Get everyone to work together to come up with solutions. Crisis time is no time for a man to panic, break down or let someone else take the reins. When you show yourself to be cool under pressure, you act like a man and your woman will value you more. Around the house, a man should be handy. You should know how to fix minor problems without calling in repairmen. This will save money, give you a sense of accomplishment and add another item to the long list of reasons why she loves you. A man shouldn’t be afraid to get his hands dirty. Most men are hopeless at cooking, but this doesn’t mean you should be clueless. You should at least know how to cut up a chicken, maybe even grill it. This puts you in a different league from the guy who faints at the sight of blood. Be able to at least deal with the masculine parts of meal preparation. Acting like a man in the bedroom is not all about taking charge and being the initiator. Being “the man” means paying attention to what your woman wants, and not only seeking self-gratification. You can only learn how to do this by communicating and asking for feedback. By putting your woman first, you show your selfless side that appeals so much to women. shemmugisha@gmail.com