Yes...Man!

I am in a new relationship.  He is everything that I asked for....but I find myself having to adapt to him more than I believe he is adapting to me.  I learned that he is a traditional man and likes to lead and feel like a man or in other words needs his ego stroked.  I am very independent.  I have been single for about 2 years before him.  Even when I was in a relationship, I still was independent and did almost everything myself from maintaining my car to fixing things around the house.  I was the man and the woman even when I had a man.  Previous men had no problem with that, maybe because I could not always depend on them anyways.  I can be submissive, that is not hard for me.  I realized to let a man be a man and do what society has assigned to him to do.  He told me that I would be offending him if I did 'his job'.  That's fine.  Here is the problem.  I find that he needs alot of ego stroking.  Whatever he asks or says it seems like he needs my reassurance to the second power.  Don't get me wrong, I still say my opinion whether I agree or not.  Now I feel like I am being too much of a "yes man"....just to keep peace.  You know like they say I am picking my own battles.  I am avoiding these petty arguments over stupid things.  Where do I draw the line?  I have to speak my mind but I am finding myself holding my tongue.  Is that called compromise or just being submissive?  I feel like both but more on the submissive side.  Submissive is a new thing for me and I mad as well call it silence.  It is a catch 22.  There nothing wrong with giving a little boost to his ego by complimenting him on his cooking or handy work (after he fished for it).  I am trying to find a balance.