20 Ways To Beat Relationship Insecurity

Ever feel anxious around your significant other? Check out these 20 confidence boosters.

There are many ways to feel more confident about your relationship, but here are 20 to get your started. Take the reins or the bull by the horns (or whatever else comes to mind), and start feeling more confident!

1. Don't snoop unless you really have good reason not to trust him. Emails and voicemails taken out of context can cause a lot of unnecessary heartache. The Frisky: Factors In Making Love Last (Or Not)

2. Give him a little friendly competition. It doesn't hurt for him to know that your tall, built, wildly
successful artist friend from college periodically tells you you're the one who got away and it's the biggest regret of his life. The Frisky: Should You Pursue A Second Shot With "The One That Got Away"?

3. Skip the games and be up front. If something's bothering you, tell him directly. Guys don't know what to make of it, and it shakes them up and gives you the upper hand. The Frisky: 20 Things You Should Never Do Without Consulting Your Significant Other

4. Be confident in yourself. Finish your degree, apply for the better job, or write that novel. If you have a good sense of your own self worth you'll be confident in your relationship. The Frisky: 13 Ways To Compliment A Woman

5. Set some ground rules at the beginning. If you both agree that Friday is the night for hanging out with your friends separately, it won't be a conflict when he wants to play poker or you want to take a short road trip with some girlfriends. The Frisky: 20 Ways To Feel More Confident About Your Relationship

6. Don't let the relationship progress too far without discussing major issues. Having children, religious differences, whether either of you is willing to relocate for a job—these can be landmines in the future. The Frisky: Would You Go To Europe To Find The One?
7. Work out. It reduces stress and releases endorphins and makes you hot. The Frisky: Do You Struggle With Your Body Image?

8. Be affectionate. If he returns the affection, it'll make you confident. If not, it's time to find a new boyfriend who is affectionate. The Frisky: Have You Ever Been Scolded For PDA?
9. Avoid the temptation to endlessly analyze details. If he wears the shirt his ex-girlfriend bought him, it may just mean that it's the only clean white shirt he has that day. The Frisky: Study Says That Facebook Makes You More Jealous

10. Similarly, avoid discussing relationship issues with paranoid girlfriends. Paranoia is contagious, and before you know it, you'll be worrying if your boyfriend is cheating, because your friend's husband came home smelling of Angel when she only wears Poison. The Frisky: Girl Talk: He's Slept With 150 Women But Won't Have Sex With Me

11. Have lots of outside interests apart from the relationship. When you start to feel insecure it helps to have something else to obsess over. The Frisky: MERRIMe, A New Web Comedy About Online Dating


12. Present your best self to your partner and the world. Don't always go out dressed in sweats and don't sleep in ratty T-shirts every single night. The old adage is true: when you look good, you probably feel good. The Frisky: 10 Gross Grooming Habits Girls Love

13. Replace negative self-talk with affirmations. Every time you find yourself thinking, "I don't deserve this guy," change it to "I deserve a wonderful relationship and more." The Frisky: Placing A Personal Ad (Almost) Ruined My Will To Date

14. Don't let yourself become dependent. Know how to unclog the sink and change a tire. Skills are confidence boosters. The Frisky: What If You DO Need A Man?

15. Let go of emotional baggage. If your grandma told you your sister was the pretty one or your dance teacher said you weren't graceful enough to be in the front row, it doesn't mean your boyfriend thinks you're homely or a klutz now. The Frisky: Breaking News: Butt And Thigh Fat Are Not A Sign Of The Apocalypse

16. Be yourself. Trying to maintain a façade is exhausting and confidence-eroding. The Frisky: Whiskey-Flavored Condoms Make Whiskey Dick Literal

17. Similarly, let him be himself. If he feels like you're always picking at him, he'll strike back and it won't feel good. The Frisky: Do Women Really Want Me With Six-Pack Abs?

18. Don't compare your relationship to other people's relationships. The grass isn't always greener and you never know what's going on behind closed doors. The Frisky: The 4 Things Men Hate About Sex

19. Memorize his credit card numbers. You'll always have the capacity for really serious revenge. The Frisky: Blogging Is The Best Revenge

20. If all else fails, there's always handcuffs. The Frisky: Show Some Restaint! Sex-In-The-Shower Handcuffs Keep You Suctioned In