Men are fixers by trade. We can and will attempt to fix anything that we percieve as needing fixed. That includes fixing the things those we love talk to us about. We just want to be helpful, fix it for you, and not feel the stress you are telling us about. We don’t want you to feel bad, and we don’t want to feel bad either. And we just want to use our talent to help fix the situation.

Active listening is hearing the whole story, all of it, and not saying a word. We might ask questions and interact with you, but we won’t, and would be best if we didn’t, speak our mind. This is the most wonderful part of a man. We can and do fix things, but in a close intimate relationship with a female, they need something else from us. They need us to affirm, to listen, and to be on their side. They just want us to listen.

Being present, being actively involved in the conversation and keeping our ideas, thoughts and suggestions to our selves, increases their acceptance of us, their love for us, and their respect for us.

This can be a very difficult rule to follow, however, the results is amazing.