Deep inside a man’s heart is a burning desire for something more.
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As men, we long to live life on our terms. We have a burning desire to wake up every day knowing that we’ll be spending our time on the things that are important to us. Living life this way would be a dream true come for many guys, but it easier said than done.
Survival comes first and foremost, but life has to be about more than surviving.
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Life is hard and rarely works out the way we want it to. There are difficulties and challenges that shatter our dreams and force us to believe a new reality. That burning desire keeps getting buried in an attempt to make the most out of what we’re going through.
Fear sets in when we think about doing things that aren’t typically seen in our society today. We battle that fear along with doubt, and the negative voices of those who don’t understand this desire for more. There are two things every man wants but might be letting fear keep him from pursuing.
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Freedom in Every Area of His Life
Survival comes first and foremost, but life has to be about more than surviving. As men, we long for freedom. This freedom includes doing work that fulfills us. Spending 40 plus hours miserable hurts every other area of our life.
You can find or create work that fulfills you despite the state of our economy. The Internet and social media have opened many doors that were previously closed by gatekeepers. You don’t have to settle for a job that you hate. You can create freedom in your work.
This freedom includes living a healthy life. What you eat and how much you exercise will determine whether or not you live a hard life full of health issues, or one that’s full of energy. There are some things that are out of our control—such as cancer—but there are things you can control. Make choices that lead to freedom in your health.
The last area of freedom is in your relationships. Toxic relationships can make you angry and depressed and keep you from truly being free. To create freedom in every area of your life, you have to purge negativity from it. The journey to freedom is hard enough on its own.
Making an Impact in the Lives of Others
There is a lot of despair in the world. As men, we see those who are hurting, and we want to help. Deep inside of us is the desire to lead and make an impact in the lives of those around us and beyond. We long to make a positive impact in the world.
While the desire to lead is there, it’s scary to put yourself out there—especially publicly. You worry about looking foolish or coming off arrogant. To make an impact, you have to stop caring what people think. This is easier said than done, but it IS possible. When you focus on those you want to help versus how you feel, you can make an impact despite the opinion of a few people who will never get it. Make an impact and help people overcome difficult situations—it’s one way to grow as a man.
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If you’re not living the kind of life you want to live—do something about it.
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Creating a life of freedom, and one that makes an impact is possible. I existed in life for 12 years. I wanted more but let fear keep me from taking action. Four years later, I have complete freedom, and I get to make an impact through my words.
Guys, on the journey to create freedom in your life, you will experience failure. You can let this failure convince you what you’re doing isn’t what’s right for you, or you can view it as a life lesson. Failure is a part of life and one of its greatest teachers. Use it to learn what to avoid next time.
I don’t know where you are or what you want to believe. I only know that what you believe affects the actions you take. If you’re not living the kind of life you wish to live—do something about it. I realize reading a 740-word article isn’t enough, but it’s a start. What happens next is up to you.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock
Good article, Kimanzi. I think what you’re getting at is that our biggest obstacle to getting what we really want is ourselves. Our thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and attitudes hold us back from experiencing the freedom and opportunity to impact others that we truly desire. How can I go about changing ideas I’ve held onto for over 30 years?