Most men want to be a hero – no matter how old they are. And it’s really easy to do. In fact, my 4-year-old grandson has it figured out already. Depending on what day it is, he’s Spider Man, Batman, or Superman – and he saves me from the “mean guys” who lurk in the corner of my family room then sneak up the stairs and into my walk-in closet. These villains would go undetected, but My Little Superhero knows they’re there. He slings his web to capture them, then proudly announces that he has saved me and I don’t have to be afraid anymore.
Every hero needs someone to save
– and someone who notices what he’s done.
Grownup heroes need that, too. The beauty of it is – as a man – you don’t have to create imaginary villains or sling imaginary webs to save her. All you have to do to be her hero is to be a gentleman. Treat her like a lady. Not many men do that these days.
Author Jane Austen provides some great examples of gentlemanly behavior. A wonderful model is Mr. Knightley in *Emma. When he sees the distress of Miss Harriett Smith who is left without a dance partner at the ball, he quickly rescues her simply by asking her to dance. Her delight is readily apparent, but more importantly, Emma notices, too.
All women love to be rescued, though we don’t always admit it, and many women won’t allow it. If you get shut down in your attempts to be a hero, don’t take it personally. Some women have been so hurt or are so afraid of being hurt that they’ve put up a wall. If you’re not married to her, move on.
If you are married to her, then there’s some work to be done to win her over. Counseling with a well-trained couples therapist can really help. Look for someone who has training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). You’ll get the best long-term return on your investment with EFT.
*Don’t want to be caught watching a chick-flick? Get Netflix and watch on your iPhone.
