FEMOSPHERE

Being receptive is a key aspect of femininity. Being receptive not only shows thankfulness and gratitude but is a way to return positive qualities to others.

Most woman have a list, whether subconsciously or not, of the qualities they are seeking in a man. Many of these qualities include being smart, funny, financially responsible, and being considerate.

Women are multipliers. Being receptive is a way to multiply and amplify good qualities.

Why Be Receptive?

The two primary reasons why you should be receptive are because it encourages gratefulness, and because it is conducive to cultivating the treatment you desire.

Firstly, being receptive encourages gratefulness. It is hard to be cheerful when you are feeling ungrateful. Being receptive requires that you notice the small acts of kindness your husband does on a daily basis.

If you are in a negative headspace about your marriage, you may have a hard time recognizing the good things your husband does. Does your husband take out the trash? Is he a good provider? Does he open your door for you?

I guarantee that there is at least one kind thing that your husband does for you daily. He must also have good qualities, otherwise you wouldn’t have married him. Being receptive helps you recognize those good traits, and ultimately, it helps encourage the further development of those traits.

Secondly, being receptive cultivates the treatment you desire. None of us likes when our good qualities or acts of love go unnoticed. When you are receptive you are using positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior.

Positive reinforcement is rewarding desired behaviors to increase the likelihood of their behavior. Being receptive includes showing gratefulness and returning whatever act or acknowledging a quality in a way that makes the other person feel seen or heard.

How to Be Receptive

You can think of being receptive to qualities as receiving and participating. Receiving is soaking in a good quality or act and participating is showing gratitude and rewarding that effort.

Participation is not meant to be a way to return an act as though it were “owed.” This is not a way to go tit for tat. Participation is meant to be a way to show that you are appreciative beyond “thank you.” Saying “thank you” is nice but if you couple that with action it truly shows that you are appreciative, which encourages further growth in a specific area.

For example, if you want a smart spouse, you must be willing to listen thoughtfully when they are speaking. This sounds so simple, but when my husband is talking to me about his car projects it is so easy for my mind to wander. To showcase receptiveness in this situation, I practice active listening and engage in the conversation. This can look like asking questions or for more details instead of offering boring platitudes like “that’s great babe,” or “I hope you can figure that out.”

Another example is work ethic and finance. If you want your husband to be hardworking and a good provider, be receptive to those qualities. In this situation, it looks like verbally appreciating his work ethic and wisely handling the finances. Don’t rack up unnecessary debt or make large financial decisions without consulting him. Another way to be receptive to your husband’s good work ethic is to allow proper time for him to rest. Allow him time to de-stress before asking for help with a project.

Here are a few more quick examples of being receptive:

If your husband makes an effort to be healthy, give him compliments on his physical appearance often. Additionally, don’t be upset when he allocates independent time to his health. Allow him to have the space and time to take care of his health.

You can thank your husband for how he leads your family, even if he does things differently than you would. Go to him for advice, big matters and small matters, and take his suggestions into consideration. Don’t see talking to him about your issues as obligatory because he is your husband, truly value his input.

In conclusion, being receptive is a way to take what your spouse is giving to you and to return it back to them in a grateful way. Gratitude can turn simple acts into ways to connect on a deeper level.