It is hard for men to be vulnerable in intimate relationships. Men are taught from a young age that they should be strong and not show their emotions. Men are also taught that they should not show vulnerability because it is seen as a sign of weakness. One of the reasons why it is hard for men to be vulnerable in intimate relationships is because they may feel like they need to protect themselves from being hurt or taken advantage of. The most important thing for men to do when entering an intimate relationship with someone else is to understand that vulnerability does not make them weak and it does not mean that they are going to be taken advantage of.
Men are socialized to be strong, independent, and invulnerable. They are often afraid of being vulnerable because they think that it will make them appear weak or feminine. The problem with this mindset is that vulnerability is an important part of any relationship. The discussion of vulnerability in relationships should not only focus on the women’s perspective; men should also be heard. Men should not feel ashamed for being vulnerable as it does not make them less masculine or less powerful than other men. As a matter of fact, no one is invulnerable, and there is a huge difference between being vulnerable and being weak. Being weak is a problem for men and women. However, being vulnerable demonstrates strength, the ability to admit wrong for the purpose of correction, and to open oneself up to constructive criticism.
When it comes to relationships, men are often faced with the pressure of being the “strong one”. They are expected to be stoic, and not show any vulnerability in order to keep up their masculinity. This is a huge problem because it can lead to a lack of intimacy in relationships. Lack of intimacy can cause women to pull away, and might even result in a breakup or divorce. Men who are in intimate relationships may have trouble being vulnerable with their partners because they don’t want their partners to see them as weak. They would rather keep themselves guarded against the outside world and keep their partner at a distance rather than risk being hurt emotionally.
There are problems with this from many angles. What I would like for women to understand is that most men want to be vulnerable with their partners. It is not as many women have been made to believe. Look at it this way. Most men don’t share their intimate thoughts and feelings with family and friends. So, who are they supposed to share these things with, if not with the woman they’re in a committed relationship with? One more thing that women should understand is, that men will only open up to you if they know you can be trusted with the information.
If you use the sensitive information they give you to belittle them, share it with others, or throw it back in their face during times of anger, that might not end the relationship, but he will definitely start withholding parts of himself from you. The majority of men who are about commitment, want to open up with the woman they are committed to but they have to know that they have a safe space in your heart.
For relationship and life coaching and advice, check out Louis’ Link Tree:
Become a patron of Relationship Louis Morris for The Love Cultivation Course, early access to podcast and blogs posts, and exclusive content: