1. Attractiveness and Self-Confidence (Two Sides of the Same Coin)

Let us get this one off the table: men like attractive women, but that doesn’t mean they’re animals.

Attractiveness doesn’t have to be merely about physical appearance.

After they get to know a woman, what men want, is a woman who loves herself.

So yes, ladies, the greatest attractiveness lies in your confidence.

And that is what we like to call mental attractiveness.

2. Intelligence

After you’re done with most of the “getting to know each other” conversations, you will have to have some other topics to talk about, or else you’ll be bored.

By intelligence, we don’t mean having a Ph.D. in nuclear physics.

However, a good grasp of common sense and general awareness of current events is a good starting point.

A clever woman is the one that he’ll gladly introduce to his friends and family, and that surely signals that he wants to stay.

3. Mature but Playful

Even though women mature quicker than men, the trends in the last couple of decades and the celebrity role models make this process slower.

We can see women in their 30s snapping selfies and acting childish.

This can be interesting for a month, tops.

After that, it is simply tasteless.

Maturity comes with experience, suffering, and leaving childhood behind.

That doesn’t mean that you should lose your playfulness, though.

Stay competitive, but only in casual games.

4. Honesty

Of course, you won’t tell him everything there is to know about you on the first date.

But don’t lie.

If you’re going to stay together, eventually, he’ll find out.

Instead of lying about some things you can’t tell him, just say you are not ready to share that with him, but one day you will be.

Lying, even about the tiniest things, makes men feel insecure – and an insecure man won’t stick around.

5. Trust

Mutual trust is the basis of a healthy relationship.

If you are honest, you deserve his trust.

If he’s doing everything within his power to earn yours, you shouldn’t spend your days asking, “does he love me.”

Men don’t like insecure women.

They especially hate feeling like they’re sitting on the defendant’s bench when explaining where they have been and what they have been doing.

What men want is someone they can trust and who trusts them in return.

6. Independence

We live in an age when women are expected to take care of themselves: financially, socially, and physically.

So, if you think it is cute that you don’t know how to change a light bulb, think again.

The fact that you have your own life, friends, and interests will attract him more over time, as he can do the same.

7. Respect

And by respect, we mean respect for yourself, your man, and others.

Respecting yourself means being aware of who you are, appreciating that, and not letting anyone put you down.

You will show your significant other respect by listening to what he has to say, taking his opinions seriously, and valuing your time together and the time he spends at work or with his friends.

Finally, show respect to everyone, especially his friends and family.

Being seen yelling at the server for getting you cold coffee is everything but attractive.

8. Affection

Humans are emotional beings; no, men didn’t come from Mars.

They, too, like it when someone shows affection for them.

It is warm, welcoming, and encouraging.

Just like women, what men want is someone to grab their hand, hug them, and tell them that everything will be OK, even when nothing is.

9. Decisiveness

If you answer the question “where you want to go tonight” with “it’s up to you” after your third date, he’ll probably think of you as clingy and indecisive.

And that is such a turnoff for guys.

When they see a woman who doesn’t know what to do when faced with the most trivial choices, they imagine a future with an overly dependent woman.

And that is the future they want to run away from.

10. Sense of Humor

Women are not the only ones who like it when someone makes them laugh.

Men enjoy that, too.

Don’t be afraid to show your true self; being goofy is OK, especially after you pass the first stage of a relationship.

Laugh, enjoy life, and have a great time everywhere (even in the grocery store); your future together will be amazing.

(Author: Sophia Smith who is a freelance writer and graphic designer from Brisbane, Australia with a huge interest in photography. She could be described as a beauty addict and life lover. She writes mostly in lifestyle-related topics, mainly through blogs and articles.)