Before my husband and I got together, we were friends for a while.
And that’s a tricky stage, especially when you have feelings for the other person as well.
So, I often had the “Does he like me? and “Does he not like me?” thoughts.
As you know, I wouldn’t want to project my own feelings on him or live in la-la land when he was just being a friend.
So, I needed to come to my senses.
However, after a logical review of his actions and inactions, I concluded that he did, even before he officially said anything.
I say that to make a disclaimer.
If you already have feelings for the person in question, you might be seeing what you want to see.
And that was something I was being careful not to do.
I also don’t want you to see through rose-colored glasses because you have feelings when you should be seeing what’s exactly in front of you.
So, make sure you are accessing logically.
Of course, if you haven’t developed feelings yet, then you shouldn’t struggle to recognize this.
That said, let’s take a look at ways to know a guy likes you.
8 Things a Man Will Do When He Really Likes You
1. He will take the initiative
If the guy in question was your friend whose feelings you’re trying to figure out, it might be a little tricky.
But if he’s a guy you met who was straightforward with his intentions from the get-go, it’s quite straightforward, lol.
Let’s take them one at a time, shall we?
When a guy meets you and makes it known he wants to pursue you, one way to differentiate the one who likes you from the one seeking only a good time is that he takes initiative.
When a man really likes you, he won’t sit back and wait for everything to happen on its own.
He’ll make the effort to reach out, plan dates, or check in just to see how your day is going.
He doesn’t drag his feet or leave you second-guessing if you matter to him.
You’ll notice he takes steps to keep things moving forward.
For example, he would make the first call or find ways for you both to spend time together.
If he’s a friend already and he isn’t taking the initiative to spend time with you, then you already have your answer.
But if he’s a friend who genuinely enjoys your company, that could also be tricky.
However, a good sign is if he tries to get you to spend time alone, especially when you guys are in a friendship group.
2. He will make you a priority
Life gets busy for everyone, but when a man truly likes you, he will prioritize you.
You won’t feel like you’re competing with his schedule.
He’ll carve out time for you, even when it’s not convenient, because you matter to him.
Now, don’t misunderstand me.
I’m not saying he’ll drop his responsibilities; he still has to go to work and enjoy his hobbies or spend time with his family and friends.
But you’ll also notice he’s intentional about including you in his plans.
He won’t push you to the back burner or make you feel like an afterthought.
Instead, you’ll feel like someone he genuinely wants in his life, and he’ll show it by putting you in a place of importance.
3. He will show interest in your life
I remember the scene in Think Like a Man where Lauren wanted to rekindle with her ex but discovered he was still the same man who was full of himself.
Throughout their date, he didn’t ask her a single question about herself; he just went on and on name-dropping and talking about all the big things he is doing now.
This is the sign of a man who doesn’t care about you.
A man who likes you won’t only talk about himself; he’ll ask about your work, your family, your dreams, and even the small things that matter to you.
He’ll pay attention to details and remember them.
He will look almost greedy about his desire to learn who you are and what you are about, down to your favorite snack or how you take your coffee.
He’ll want to know what excites you and what bothers you, and he’ll listen instead of just nodding.
If you have a nonchalant man who never asks you any questions but focuses only on himself, yeah, he doesn’t like you.
4. He will want you to know him
In the same vein, a man who likes you won’t keep you guessing about who he is.
He’ll open up to you – little by little, of course – about his past, his goals, and even his insecurities.
You will find that he wants you to see more than the surface because he’s thinking of integrating you into his life.
So, even when you still have casual conversations and banter, you’ll notice that he always makes an effort to share things he wouldn’t tell just anyone.
On the one hand, that’s his way of showing you he trusts you.
Secondly, he wants you to understand him better because he’s interested in you and wants to build something deeper with you.
5. He will ask your opinion on things
For me, this was one of the major ways I knew my man was interested in me.
Remember, I said we were friends and I was being extra careful not to misinterpret friendship for deeper feelings.
But I noticed he would send me the most random things to ask me what I thought about it.
That’s something common with men when they like a woman.
He will ask your opinion on something small, like what shirt looks better, or bigger decisions, like career moves or family issues.
A man who likes you wants your input because he values your thoughts and is genuinely curious about what you think.
Plus, really, what better way can someone show you they see you as someone important than when they take your perspective into account?
6. He will respect you
I know that some people see respect as subservience and, therefore, something to only accord to men.
First of all, that’s hogwash.
Secondly, respect is a sign that someone likes you, no matter your gender.
So, if a man likes you, he will respect you.
He won’t dismiss your feelings, belittle your opinions, or pressure you into things you’re not comfortable with.
Instead, he’ll treat you in a way that makes you feel safe and valued.
Even when you disagree, he won’t talk down to you or make you feel small; he will present his opinion with honor and listen to yours without shutting you down.
Also, he will respect your boundaries and carry himself well around you because he sees real value in who you are.
7. He will protect you
Now, before you misunderstand protection as fighting someone off in the street, that’s not what we’re talking about here.
I’m talking about things as simple as walking you to your car, checking in to make sure you got home safely, or standing up for you when someone talks to you the wrong way.
Men are very protective when they like a woman, so they will feel a natural urge to look out for your well-being.
He will want to make sure you’re safe, physically and emotionally, because your comfort matters to him.
That protective nature of men only turns up when they care about a woman.
Sure, it comes up with their female friends as well, but if it is combined with the other points, you can know it’s because he has special feelings for you.
8. He will tell you
This is one that many women downplay, but it couldn’t be more real.
Trust me, when a man really likes you, you won’t be left guessing.
He’ll say it with his words, but more importantly, his actions will line up too.
He’ll show up, keep his promises, and make sure you don’t have to wonder where you stand.
If you find yourself always questioning whether he’s into you, the truth is, he probably isn’t.
A man who is serious about you will make it very clear.
You’ll see it in how he treats you and hear it in how he speaks to you, and you won’t ever be in doubt.