Four ways to stroke his ego: the following phrases will make any guy's self-esteem skyrocket.(his point of view)

* From the boardroom to the bedroom, women are calling the shots these days. And while that's cool, your can-do attitude sometimes makes us guys feel more like mice than men. Since you don't want your guy feeling (or acting) like a girlie-man, remind him he's still your rock. Here's what to say:

"You Make Me Feel Safe"

Somewhere along the line, we had it ingrained in our heads that it's our job to protect you. Trouble is, today's kick-ass chicks don't exactly need protecting, which makes guys feel (ahem) slightly emasculated. Take it from James*, 29: "My girlfriend is this amazing powerhouse," he says. "I used to question what I brought to the relationship until one night when I crawled into bed late. She grabbed me and said, "I get scared when you're not here." I know it sounds cheesy, but I felt like I was living up to my role as the man of the house."

"I Can't Believe You Knew That"

A guy wants to feel like, no matter how brainy his babe is, he can still teach her a thing or two. So why not fluff his feathers by letting him show off his smarts? That's what the girlfriend of Cameron, 26, did. "Holly graduated in the top 10 of our law class, whereas I was a B student," he says. "So when she called me one day to ask for my input ...