Why Men Pull Away - and What You Need to Do
And how to tap into his deep desire to commit. (Must watch video in the link)
We’ve all been there. He blows you away on your first two dates. No guy had ever worked so hard to impress you or leave you with butterflies at the end of the evening.
He was attentive, respectful, gentle and engaged. He actually listened when you talked!
But then, just when you decide you’ve fallen for him...wtf…He withdraws!
The roles have reversed. Overnight, you’re now working to get his attention.
Why do men do that? Why do men shut women out?
Certainly, not every man pulls away when things start to heat up, but a lot of guys do.
Enough, in fact, that this is one of the top 10 questions among the women I work with my dating and relationship coaching class.
Guys come on strong, pursuing with enough passion to make Romeo jealous, but when they win the attention of their Juliet, it's game over. Crickets.
What gives?
Look, dating's a tough gig. Yes, it's fun and exciting, but it's also nerve-racking.
At first, it's all about the chase. He's trying to get your attention, and you're deciding whether or not he's worth it.
That's the time in any dating relationship when both people are so wrapped up in the pursuit that they're hardly giving any thought to what will come next.
And then, the pursuit changes.
You decide you're into the guy, and he, having won your attention, has to begin the process of considering an actual, serious relationship. Does he want one?
More than likely he does, or he wouldn't have been chasing you!
But, wanting it and being fearless enough to really go after it are two different things.
So, what's a girl to do?
Well, first I'll tell you what you should NOT do.
Avoid These Two Common Mistakes
First, don't assume it's about you. It almost certainly isn't. He was into you before you decided you were into him. He's still into you, now.
Second, don't pressure him. This is where a lot of the advice columns get it wrong. They often say you should play "hard to get" or some version of it.
Instead, let him know you're interested in him.
Do it in ways that don't smother or push. (Text messages every hour, on the hour, for example, might be over-doing it.)
Why do men pull away and shut women out at this phase of a relationship? Because he's a little nervous. He's nervous about giving up the freedom of choice.
Don't change, be the woman he wanted to date
During the pursuit phase, it's desire that motivates him. As soon as he realizes this could be something real, his motivation shifts.
Suddenly he's thinking about the many options he will give up, and the lifestyle changes he's committing to.
A lot of guys I’ve interviewed stated they have an irrational fear that all their activities will all become feminized if they commit to a woman. Who would have ever guessed this? I certainly didn’t!
When he's acting this way, you don't have to change what you're doing. When he acts distant, your best bet is to appear calm and comfortable. It’s important that you remain the woman he fell in love with. Be confident, carefree and available.
Don't freak out—that'll freak him out. Don't demand his attention—that'll send him running. And don't launch into a panic that he's seen some fatal flaw in you. I know, anxiety is a killer in these situations and remaining calm can be like trying to train a fruit fly but you must not show him that you are freaking out with worry.
Negative, needy and pushy are unattractive. If you’re struggling with remaining calm, talk to a close friend, engage in activities you enjoy and if you need it, ask for professional help.
Always Assume the Best
Remember, he pursued you for the first few dates, hoping you'd decide you were into him. He's gone out on a limb before.
Now it's your turn. Give him enough space to feel comfortable while still letting him know you're interested.
Any guy who truly wants a mature, real relationship will come around as soon as he sees there's nothing there to be afraid of. Men want a woman that brings peace and comfort to their lives, not chaos and emotional instability. Mastering your emotional intelligence is attractive and quite frankly a superpower for conquering all aspects of life with grace.
Now, before you settle into "waiting mode," I'd like to share a shortcut that can pull him back and rekindle his passionate pursuit at lightning speed.
There's nothing wrong with being patient, but if you want to pour a little miracle grow on your relationship, here's what I recommend you do next...
When He Shuts You Out, Try This...
Survey research shows men would rather be respected than loved. It's wired into our DNA. Men feel an irrational need to earn your respect as an avenue to becoming worthy of your love.
Now look, as a female dating coach working primarily with women, I know how crazy this must sound to you. But it's true. It's one of the few "secrets" that really can give you an unfair advantage with men.
How? It’s an ego thing. Shocking, right?
If you channel a man's deep desire to earn your respect in the right ways, he will bend over backward for you. And the more he does this, the easier it becomes for him to see himself in a long-term committed relationship with you.
And his favorite way to earn your respect?
He wants to be heroic. He wants to solve problems for you, come to your aid, and prove himself useful. He wants to be recognized and appreciated.
It's not very romantic, but it's woven into the fabric of his DNA. Men like the chase and the pat on the back.
In “His Secret Obsession”, James Bauer explains this phenomenon further. I’ve been studying his work for months and it’s been a valuable tool on my own journey to date with intention. You can watch his videos here.
Men and women have different love languages and tapping into them is a key component to developing healthy, mature relationships that have a future destination.
Give him opportunities to be the hero with no ulterior expectations. When he sees your open to him being your man without any pressure, he will naturally be drawn to you.
I’m not going to tell you it’s easy, because it’s not. As a former over-thinker, I can tell you that learning how to trust he journey and enjoy the process has changed my life and how I date.
If you’ve found this article helpful or have any questions, please comment below.
For weekly inspiration and free printable downloads, join the free BEMBY Newsletter today!
I’m glad you’re here,
Jill Schmidt
References:
Harry's Masculinity Report 2018 s3.amazonaws.com/harrys-cdnx-prod/manual/Harry%27s+Masculinity+Report%2C+USA+2018.pdf - Men are happiest when a part of something where they feel needed and valued.
Anderson, Cameron & Hildreth, John & Howland, Laura. (2015). Is the Desire for Status a Fundamental Human Motive? A Review of the Empirical Literature. Psychological bulletin. 141. 10.1037/a0038781. - Male need for respect.
Gender Differences in Implicit Self-Esteem Following a Romantic Partner's Success or Failure," Kate A. Ratliff, PhD, University of Florida, and Shigehiro Oishi, PhD, University of Virginia; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, online Aug. 5, 2013. - Men have lower self-esteem when their partner succeeds and they fail (i.e. they don't feel needed/irreplaceable).
Canevello A, Crocker J. Creating good relationships: Responsiveness, relationship quality, and interpersonal goals. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2010;99(1):78-106. doi:10.1037/a0018186 - Showing him you believe in him and he's the one for the job.
Reis HT, Lemay Jr EP, Finkenauer C. Toward understanding understanding: The importance of feeling understood in relationships. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 2017:11(3):e12308. doi:10.1111/spc3.12308 - You value his point of view and abilities.