Inkrid,

Reads like a fish, smells like a fish, swims like a fish, but really isn’t? Consider, there is nothing manipulative about attempting to help our partners learn to give to us skillfully, such as “my shoulders feel better when you rub them this way” or “my heart feels light and well tended when you buy me flowers” and so forth. The manipulative aspect is in getting others to hint and speak for us, failing to be direct and honest about our needs, and so on and so forth. Consider your list is missing the kissing. Such as “talk to him directly about what you want.” Call your friends? Tell the children? Cry? Don’t intentionally wield energy in such ways, it leads to isolation and resentment. Apple seeds grow apple trees. Instead, be direct and courageous in love, and love will grow directly and passionately. IMHO. Namaste.

With warmth,
Matt