If you’re having trouble finding the right man, it’s time to follow our dating advice in 2024. After all, we know what makes a good boyfriend and what qualities contribute to happy, healthy relationships.
Our guide addresses the traits of a good partner and some red flags to avoid. Whether you’re wondering if you’re dating the right person now or still looking for Mr.Right, follow our tips to help find yourself a compatible match.
As much as we wish we could dream up the perfect guy and have him appear, that’s not exactly how it works. While we can’t pick and choose every favorable quality, there are some advantages to identifying what kind of characteristics you value in a partner.
Begin by reflecting on what’s important to you in a partner and a relationship. What kind of characteristics does your ideal partner possess? And how do those qualities contribute to the overall health of your relationship?
You might prioritize honesty, commitment, and strong communication, but someone else might value financial stability, shared religious beliefs, and a mutual desire to raise a family. There are no wrong answers; this is simply an exercise to help you pinpoint what qualities are compatible with your ideal version of a partner and a relationship.
You can learn from your past relationships and use that information to make better choices moving forward. Even if you ended your relationship on good terms, there are still probably things you wish you’d noticed sooner or didn’t ignore over the course of that partnership.
Reflect on your previous partners and see how they’ve impacted what you want in a future partner. For example, if you were with someone who cheated on you, you might look for a man who prides himself on being honest, trustworthy, reliable, and faithful. Or, if you were with an emotionally unavailable guy, you may want to meet someone who prioritizes quality time, open communication, and therapy sessions.
So, what makes a good boyfriend? And what qualities should you look for in a man? We believe the following are the top five relationship qualities in 2024.
Emotional intelligence means you can manage your emotions and understand the emotions of others. Key elements needed to achieve emotional intelligence include self-awareness, empathy, motivation, self-regulation, and social skills.
This is a healthy relationship trait because perceiving and expressing emotions can help you and your partner connect on a deeper level and better understand each other. Strong emotional intelligence also helps foster healthy communication and prevent conflicts.
Next, when finding a compatible partner, look for a man with strong communication skills. This means he’s willing to have heart-to-hearts and doesn’t shy away from tough conversations. You want someone who will openly and honestly discuss what’s on his mind and encourage you to do the same.
As a bonus, it’s a good sign if he practices active listening skills, such as maintaining eye contact, picking up non-verbal cues, and allowing you to speak without interrupting.
Reliability and dependability are other key attributes to look for in a man. Whether you need a shoulder to cry on, a ride home from the airport, or someone to cheer you on at your sporting event, you should be able to count on your partner to show up in all those ways and more.
Reliability and dependability are also important because they help promote trust and honesty in a relationship, which are huge components of a healthy relationship.
It’s nearly impossible for you and your partner to agree on every little thing, and that’s ok! Having different tastes and interests is normal (and encouraged!). That said, aligning on the big things in your relationship is important. For example, if you’re in a monogamous relationship, you should both agree not to see other people. Or, if you desperately want to start a family, you should ensure that your partner shares that vision.
Building a strong relationship might be difficult if you don’t agree on the important things, so look for someone with similar values and interests.
Finally, we recommend searching for a goal-oriented man. You want someone motivated and ambitious who looks forward and plans for the future. This might mean he’s saving up to buy a house, working toward earning a certificate at work, or training for a half-marathon. This driven mindset shows he has a gusto for life and a desire to improve.
So, why is this important to your relationship? Dating a guy who is open to improving himself and working on goals shows that he is committed, reliable, and determined, which are positive characteristics that can enhance your partnership.
Part of dating the right person involves recognizing red flags. If you recognize any of the following red flags in your own relationship, it might be time to move on.
We covered what makes a good boyfriend, so what makes a bad boyfriend? A boyfriend who is unwilling to commit to you or fails to consistently show up in your relationship will not make a good partner. A guy who is wishy-washy and cannot make up whether he’s in or out of the relationship is not someone worth wasting your time on.
Not every man wakes up being the best communicator or the most emotionally available person on the planet, but the important part is that the good ones try. They try to improve their communication skills and work on opening up by practicing with you or consulting with a therapist.
That said, if you meet a guy who has a poor communication style, lacks emotional availability, and is not interested in trying to improve himself, these qualities may negatively impact your relationship.
This is a big one. If you’re dating a man who ignores or disregards your boundaries and values, they are not the one, and they never will be the one. When a man doesn’t accept the boundaries and values you’ve set for yourself and your relationship, he’s failing to understand who you are as a person while blatantly disrespecting you.
Every healthy relationship is based on boundaries and values, so look for a man who respects yours and is eager to accommodate them. Or, better yet, find someone who shares similar boundaries and values.
Maybe you’ve already met someone who seems to possess some of these favorable qualities. How do you know if he’s right for you?
You can tell a lot about a person by looking at how they face challenges. A solid partner will assess the situation with a level head and look for ways to solve the problem or eliminate the stress. He’ll try to remain calm and communicate his feelings. Maybe he’ll even journal, go for a run, or ask you to talk about it with him. These are all healthy ways of handling stress.
Alternatively, if he bottles up his feelings or releases them in a fit of rage, then he may not be equipped with the skills to overcome challenges. If he doesn’t handle stress in a productive way, you may find it difficult to work through inevitable hiccups in your own relationship.
Another way to tell if you’re dating the right person is by looking at how he treats others. For instance, how does he treat the waitress while you’re dining out or the janitor who cleans his office? Or, better yet, how does he treat the customer service rep when something’s not going his way?
Does he treat them with kindness and respect? Or does he act rude, abrasive, and self-righteous? His behavior and attitude toward others can be major indicators of his true colors.
Assess your long-term compatibility when searching for the perfect man for you. What does your ideal future look like, and how does that compare with his?
Do you share a common vision for where you want to live and how you want to spend your free time? What does your work-life balance look like? And are kids in the picture?
While you don’t have to agree on everything, it’s important to agree on some of the bigger issues to help ensure you’re both moving in the same direction and working toward similar relationship goals.
Last but not least, it’s important to consider how self-awareness can impact your ability to find the ideal man.
We’ve talked a lot about the qualities to look for in a man, but many of those qualities should apply to you, too.
You need to work on yourself first, ensuring you have a healthy mindset and the right traits to bring to the table as a viable partner. For instance, master your communication skills, embrace your emotional intelligence, and determine what goals and values are most important to you.
The more you understand yourself, the more you can pinpoint what you need in a partner and a relationship. This involves getting to know yourself and prioritizing what makes you grow and flourish as a person. Focus on determining certain personality traits you value in a partner and establishing boundaries that can help your relationship thrive.
Our Tawkify matchmakers know relationship compatibility inside and out, and they have the skills to help you find your ideal match in 2024.
Finding a compatible partner can be tricky, but that’s where our professional matchmakers can help. We specialize in matching singles with common interests, preferences, values, and dating goals. When you work one-on-one with our matchmakers, they’ll learn all about your dating criteria and then hand-select candidates who best align with your wants and needs. With our team of matchmakers on your side, you’ll be one step closer to meeting your dream partner.
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