This article was co-authored by Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C
and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden
. Raffi Bilek is a couples counselor and family therapist, and the Director of The Baltimore Therapy Center, LLC. With more than ten years of experience, he specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families save and improve their relationships. He enjoys training other therapists to work with couples through the most difficult situations, including infidelity, divorce, and more. Raffi holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Brown University and a Master's degree in Social Work from The Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
There are 10 references
cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 30,687 times.
If you’re constantly falling for “Mr. Wrong,” it can feel strange to suddenly date a nice guy. Actual nice guys are kind, respectful, and loving, which is usually a great foundation for a relationship. In many ways, you’ll get used to dating a nice guy just by sticking with him! Give yourself time to adjust and challenge negative thoughts whenever you have them. Keep reading to learn how you can break your habits of the past and get used to dating the right guy.
Steps
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Sometimes, we assume that we don’t deserve love. However, everyone deserves to be with someone who makes them feel healthy, happy, and in control. If you’ve only dated people in the past who made you feel bad about yourself, it can take some time to unlearn those negative thoughts. [1] X Research source
- It might be helpful to repeat a mantra to yourself, like, “I deserve love and happiness.”
- You might also find it helpful to talk to a mental health professional. [2]
X
Expert Source
Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C
Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical Expert Interview. 15 October 2021.
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What do you like about the guy you’re dating? Maybe he’s funny, smart, kind, charming, or intelligent. [3] X Expert Source Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C
Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical Expert Interview. 15 October 2021. Sit down and literally make a list of all the good things about him to remind yourself why you like him. [4] X Research source- Try contrasting those traits with the guys you’ve dated in the past. For instance, maybe your last boyfriend was rude or arrogant. Since you didn’t like that about him, you’ll probably like that your new guy is smart and down to earth.
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Nice guys tend to do a lot for the people they love. Try not to take those things for granted, and appreciate him for what he does for you. [5] X Expert Source Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C
Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical Expert Interview. 15 October 2021. Thank him for doing nice things, or write them down so you remember just how good of a partner he is. [6] X Research source- Maybe he picked you up from work, bought you flowers, took you out for dinner, or comforted you while you cried.
- Try not to take advantage of him, either. If he does something nice for you once, it doesn’t mean you should expect it every day.
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Ask him questions about his life to move beyond surface level. Nice guys are just like you: they have hopes, dreams, fears, and goals in life. Once you get to know him, you’ll probably find yourself appreciating him for who he is. Ask things like: [7] X Trustworthy Source New York State Government Official website for the State of New York Go to source
- “Who are you closest to in your family?”
- “What’s your happiest memory from your childhood?”
- “Where do you want to be in 5 years?”
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Nice guys are actually nice, so you can trust him. If you’ve been with a lot of not-so-great people in the past, it might be tough for you to open yourself up and let him get to know you. [8] X Expert Source Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C
Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical Expert Interview. 15 October 2021. Try to remember that he’s a kind, loving person who only wants the best for you. [9] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source- You might also feel like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop, or you keep expecting something bad to happen. If you catch yourself thinking that, remind yourself that you don’t have to wait for the next bad things.
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You can relax and enjoy your relationship if it’s going well. Remember that relationships shouldn’t be exhausting or difficult, and you should have a good time with your partner overall. There may be some moments where you feel angry or upset, but for the most part, you can take a step back and feel happy about where you’re at. [10] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source
- Sometimes, dating the wrong people makes you think that all relationships should include turmoil or heartbreak, but that’s not the case.
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Get your adrenaline pumping to see a new side of him. Watch a scary movie, go skydiving, or visit a haunted house. Make the experience positive so you can increase your attraction to him. [11] X Research source
- In unhealthy relationships, people often mistake fear for attraction. If you can experience fear in a safe way and attribute it to your new partner, you may be able to grow closer to him.
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If your sex life is a little boring, spice it up a bit. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy—something as simple as introducing a new toy or trying a bit of role play can get your blood pumping. This will increase your sexual attraction toward him and leave you more open to his advances. [12] X Research source
- You could also ask him if he has any sexual fantasies, although he might be a little shy about them at first.
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In healthy relationships, you can maintain your outside interests. Keep up with your friends and go do your hobbies outside of your relationship. This might feel like a change if you’ve been stuck in bad relationships before, but it’s much healthier than spending time with your partner all day every day. [13] X Research source
- You should definitely try to see your partner a few times per week, but give yourself some alone time, too.
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Nice guys can sometimes come off as clingy or needy. If you’re struggling with that aspect of your relationship, sit your partner down and explain what’s going on. Tell him that it’s not his fault, but you’re just used to a little more independence within relationships. You two can strike a balance that works for the both of you. [14] X Research source
- Say something like, “I love that you’re so invested in this relationship, but texting and calling me 24/7 makes me feel a little suffocated. I want to see you and spend time with you, but not every single day.”
Expert Q&A
Tips
- If you’ve been in an abusive relationship in the past, consider talking to a mental health professional. [15] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/relationships/healthy-relationships/what-makes-relationship-unhealthy
- ↑ Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C. Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical. Expert Interview. 15 October 2021.
- ↑ Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C. Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical. Expert Interview. 15 October 2021.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/liking-the-child-you-love/201405/do-quickly-see-your-partners-positive-qualities
- ↑ Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C. Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical. Expert Interview. 15 October 2021.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201211/why-nice-guys-and-gals-finish-last-in-love
- ↑ https://www.ny.gov/teen-dating-violence-awareness-and-prevention/what-does-healthy-relationship-look
- ↑ Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C. Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical. Expert Interview. 15 October 2021.
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/emotional-intelligence-love-relationships.htm
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/emotional-intelligence-love-relationships.htm#
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-simple-ways-to-reignite-your-relationship#2
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-matters/201803/sexual-fantasies-tell-or-not-tell
- ↑ https://www.loveisrespect.org/everyone-deserves-a-healthy-relationship/relationship-spectrum/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201211/why-nice-guys-and-gals-finish-last-in-love
- ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/relationships/healthy-relationships/what-makes-relationship-unhealthy
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