How to Encourage Your Husband: 10 Thoughtful Ways

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Learning how to encourage your husband productively is a process worth following in every marriage. This applies to all marriages, regardless of same-sex marriages or heterosexual marriages. This is something that every spouse can learn and master.

A relationship doesn’t thrive only on love. Partners also need to be around each other in tough times and hold hands in times of need. Just the fact that someone has the back is enough support to keep the person going.

There could be times when your husband is ridden with distress and cannot figure out what he can do to come out of the situation. He might not express it but he needs you around.

Why is encouraging your husband important?

Encouraging your husband is important as it boosts his confidence, promotes a positive self-image, and strengthens the emotional bond in your relationship. It shows support, appreciation, and belief in his abilities, contributing to his overall well-being and the health of your marriage.

Top 10 ways to encourage your husband

Now is the time to learn how to encourage your husband in the right ways. Not only can this lead to a happier husband but also a healthier and more productive marriage. Plus, if you learn how to encourage your husband, it will have major benefits for you too.

You will be surprised at how simple some of these methods are, discover them all right now.

Here are ten ways how to effectively encourage your husband:

1. Offer words of encouragement 

One of the best ways to encourage your husband is to do so verbally. You should always be there to cheer him on no matter what the circumstances may be.

Encouraging your husband and helping him to feel better in times when he may be uncertain, is part of the package when it comes to being married. A simple word of encouragement for your husband may mean the world to him.

Simple words of praise and love may help him to thrive more than you will ever know.

2. Discover what your husband’s love expression is

Each person has a very different language and this can have a huge impact on your marriage. By discovering what your husband’s love expression is, you will be able to encourage your man better.

If his love expression is affirmations, then finding encouraging things to say to your husband is more important than ever. It is important to continuously offer him affirmations of encouragement consistently, even when he may seem like he is doing well.

The best way to affirm your husband is by praising him verbally and offering verbal support.

If his love expression is gifting, then you could write down messages of love and show encouragement in that regard. If physical touch is his love expression, then make sure to always offer small gestures of physical affection.

3. Turn his frown upside down

It is so important to encourage your man when he’s down. It is up to you to put a smile on his face by making it your number one mission to make him happy.

There are many ways you can use it when it comes to how to help your husband. Put in some effort by planning his favorite food and the genre of movies that he enjoys best.

Try to make him laugh and smile and remind him how important he is to you. Sometimes you may need to show him how much you love him, and this can be just as encouraging as words. 

However, don’t forget to tell your husband you love him too and shower some “encouraging messages for my husband”.

It is imperative to encourage your husband by doing small things for him continuously. Making him a cup of coffee without him asking, or putting chocolate on his pillow, are all ways to make him feel special, loved, and most of all encouraged.

4. Remind him of his amazing qualities

Sometimes supporting your husband may require you to “stroke his ego.”

The best way to encourage him is often by praising him. You could tell him what a great husband he is and how good-looking he is. (After all, if he wasn’t good-looking and wonderful you wouldn’t have married him, right?). 

Let him genuinely know how attractive he is to you— making use of words to genuinely uplift your man. This could be the encouragement that he badly needs to feel better about himself or about possible rejection, such as a bad job interview.

It is important not to assume that he knows how much you love all of his amazing qualities. You need to tell him actively. You could even make a list of the things that you love about him and remind him of these qualities on a daily basis.

5. Tell him how proud you are of him

When it comes to ways of learning how to encourage your husband best, sometimes it’s the simple things that matter. You don’t need to do anything extravagant or out of the ordinary. 

All that you need to do is learn how to motivate your husband by telling him how proud you are of him.

It is essential for him as a man to gain a sense of how proud you are not only of him but of everything that you have achieved together. Tell him daily how proud you are of him and how proud you are to be with him.

If you’re both on social media, make a point of tagging him in a photo of the two of you and mentioning how much you love him and how proud you are of him. Small gestures like this could really do big things for your relationship.

6. Listen genuinely when he talks

A lack of communication is, unfortunately, one of the biggest reasons why good relationships turn bad. Do not allow this to happen to your relationship. Learning how to encourage your husband entails also learning how to communicate effectively with each other.

While communication is a “two-way street,” it is important for you to do your part. As a spouse, it is highly important to not just listen to him but to genuinely hear him.

Listening and hearing are two different things, and it is highly recommended that you understand the fundamental difference. When your husband genuinely feels listened to, this is one of the best ways to encourage your husband that exists.

Pay extra attention to the details, and remember these small details. Let him know without a shadow of a doubt that you are genuinely hearing and understanding him. This is one of the greatest forms of encouragement that you can provide.

Improve your active listening skills through this video by Communication Coach Alexander Lyon:

7. Keep regular date nights

Many couples underestimate the true value of a set date night. Setting date nights and sticking to the schedule is able to really help you reconnect with your husband. Life becomes stressful, and it can often feel like you are “living past one another”.

One of the best ways of discovering how to encourage your husband is by having a date night and talking.

A regular date night will help you to reconnect as a couple. Due to financial constraints, time, and more, once a week or once every two weeks is not an option for many couples. In this case, you could even choose to schedule a date night once a month.

This date night doesn’t need to be extravagant in any way. It can consist of the two of you sitting on a park bench and eating sandwiches or something simple as taking a walk by the beach and visiting a coffee shop afterward.

8. Let him take the lead

If you really want to excel at encouraging your husband, there is a simple way to do it that generally works. What is required is for you to simply allow him to take the lead. When it comes to making big decisions, sometimes allow him to feel in control.

It is imperative to encourage your husband by proving to him that you trust his judgment and opinions. The best way to actively show your husband that you trust him explicitly is to allow him to take the lead.

Allow him to make decisions, trust his judgments and allow him to feel in control. Without even knowing it, you are actually encouraging your husband more than you know in this manner.

9. Always have his back

In order to really support your husband, it is important for you to “always have his back.” Not only should you always be loyal and “have his back,” but he should be completely aware that this is the case. 

When it comes to encouraging your husband in all the right ways, this may entail some awkwardness at times. There may be times during your relationship when you will need to stand up for him, even if you don’t fully agree with him. 

10. Remember to say “thank you”

Always remember to say “thank you,” even after small things along with other “encouraging words for my husband”. If he buys you a meal, remember to say thank you and express your appreciation verbally. Never let him feel taken advantage of or taken for granted.

Always say thank you and show your husband you appreciate him. One of the best things that you can do to show appreciation on a regular basis is to say thank you for being you to him before going to sleep and giving him a goodnight kiss.

20 things to say to encourage your husband

If you are looking for some quotes or phrases to use that could encourage your husband, here are some positive words of encouragement for husbands that are sure to give them the right push:

1. “You have come so far since I met you, and it has been a true honor sharing this journey with you”
2. “You are really the best husband anybody could ever ask for”
3. “I see the problems other couples are having, and I am so pleased to be with you”
4. “I love the way you touch me”
5. “Your kindness makes you the most handsome man in the world”
6. “You are my number one”
7. “I enjoy every moment that we spend together”
8. “Your morals and values always amaze me”
9. “I love the way you treat other people”
10. “You always look good even when you just wake up”
11. “Your heart is always in the right place”
12. “Thank you for everything that you do for this family”
13. “Thank you for treating me right”
14. “I really do love and appreciate you”
15. “I genuinely love the person who you are, and I never want you to change”
16. “You make the world a much better place”
17. “Spending time with you is always time well spent”
18. “I admire your bravery and courage”
19. “You have some amazing qualities”
20. “You truly are my dream partner”

Commonly asked questions

Here are some frequently considered questions about encouraging one’s husband in a productive and substantial way. Let’s have a look.

• How do I make my husband feel appreciated?

As we have already discussed in detail above, you can make your husband feel loved and appreciated by expressing gratitude for his efforts and contributions and complimenting him sincerely.

Also, actively listen to his thoughts and feelings, show affection and support, engage in shared activities, and regularly communicate your love and admiration for him in order to keep his confidence high.

You can also seek the guidance of marriage therapy to work on underlying issues and provide better support to your husband.

• What motivates men?

Men can be motivated by various factors, including a sense of accomplishment, recognition for their achievements, opportunities for growth and advancement, competition, personal goals, financial stability, meaningful relationships, and the pursuit of their passions and interests.

Keeping his heart full and confidence high

Your husband might not openly say he needs you but there could be instances when he could be silently suffering and needing you by his side.

These methods can work wonders in discovering how to encourage your husband in the right ways. It may take time, energy, effort, patience, courage, and even practice, but in the end,  it will be worth it.