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Nobody knows what men are doing anymore—especially the men.
There’s no denying that the glass ceiling still exists, but things are changing. While women are on the rise and finally getting some of the recognition they have long deserved in work and education, young men are now lagging behind in both areas. The future is about the ascension of women, but that does not have to be bad news for guys.
In fact, I would argue that if you are a real man—a Guy’s Guy if you will—there has never been a better time to be a guy. Today’s women are shaking up the world and making things happen. They are not against men, but they do want guys to step up and be their best.
Today’s women want to date men who know who they are, know what they want, and are driven to become the best they can be. Period. They want men to be men in the best sense of the word. So let’s listen to our women and get to work.
We can begin by acknowledging that there is a problem and many hurdles for young men to get over. Young bucks lack role models and many of their older counterparts are fading fast and are not setting a good example. In fact, many boomers and even Generation-Xer’s choose to complain about our changing world instead of putting in the effort to become better men.
As a result, many men find themselves out of touch and falling behind (and in some cases, falling off). Young men are at a crossroads in how they see themselves and how they fit in. Many young guys are caught somewhere between the MMA and manscaping, and that’s no place to be.
We are facing a male crisis, but it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s up to men to do the work to save themselves. That’s what real men do. The good news is women want us to succeed. Here are a few suggestions to help men thrive.
Celebrate women.
Men need to realize that women are not the enemy. They should encourage women’s gains in the workplace and in our culture because it’s a very good thing for everyone, including men. When women take on more of the heavy lifting and financial burdens, it frees men up to evolve in other areas, like working on themselves physically, spiritually, and in furthering their education.
Guys need to know that women want men to be at their best—not only financially or at the job, but in all aspects of your self-development. With a little effort and swallowing some of our male pride, guys can make tremendous strides in bridging the growing communications gap between the sexes so everyone wins. If guys do this, women will welcome them with open arms. Don’t be afraid to work on yourself. The world becomes a better place when we men evolve to become the best they can be in mind, body, and spirit.
Go inside.
It’s an old adage, but the answers do come from within. The media is constantly bombarding us with fear and worry. We become hypnotized by multiplatform messaging and its intrusion into our subconscious. As a result, much of our societal behavior has become reactive rather than mindful. And it’s easy to become distracted by all of the content we’re subjected to.
To maintain a true sense of self, it’s necessary for men to find ways of “tuning into themselves in order to tune out the noise.” More and more people are exploring spirituality and holistic practices for optimal health and ways of getting in touch with themselves. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those following this path are women.
It’s time for guys to take a trip inside themselves and learn what makes them tick and what is really important to their lives and to the women they love. Energetic practices including Reiki, hypnosis, meditation, tai chi, yoga, and even calligraphy are a few of the practices having positive effects on men’s self-knowledge and wellbeing.
You are what you eat.
Going inside also means cleaning up your body. Cutting back or eliminating smoking, alcohol, red meat, preservatives, GMO’s, dairy, and sugar not only improve a man’s physical well being, it also increases our mental clarity. Autoimmune diseases begin in the gut. The gut is now recognized as our second brain. Diet is a quality of life issue that many men overlook. Too many men eat and drink the same way they did when they were in college, and it’s killing them before their time.
Young men in their thirties are, for the first time, being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s symptoms, and it’s arguably due to their diet and indulgence of bad food, drink, stress, and behavioral practices. Unfortunately, many men choose what tastes good to eat rather than what’s good for them. As a result, because their bodies are breaking down much earlier nowadays. Too many men find themselves talking about what they used to be able to do rather than still doing what they love. Even modest changes in diet can have long-lasting benefits.
You are more than your job.
Many of my middle-aged male friends define themselves solely by their jobs, their title, and their weekly paycheck. Sure, the economy’s tough and we need money to keep rolling in the style we have been accustomed to, but it’s important for men to really know themselves beyond defining themselves by a job or salary. In today’s world, there is no job security. Jobs and titles change and eventually fade away, leaving men alone with an identity crisis.
Fellas, to be a truly successful person, it’s important to know the guy you’re going to be spending the rest of your days with—you. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to learn. We live in a culture rich with outlets for personal growth. If you put in the time to get to know yourself and what’s really important, you might find you’re a lot more than you ever thought you could be.
Keep learning.
The secret to youth is remaining curious. No matter how smart or successful you are, it’s game-over if you think you know everything. Learning keeps our brain healthier and on point so we can be our very best. There are infinite ways of feeding your mind and nurturing your soul. Take a class, read a book, study a language, learn an instrument, look inside. Then find the things that bring you joy, regardless of your age or current situation. Love yourself.
Our world is changing rapidly, but there has never been a better time to be a man. It’s up to us, guys, to take advantage of what’s available in order to live as vibrantly as possible. If we make the effort we can win and our women will be there to welcome us. Now, let’s get started.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
“It’s up to men to do the work to save themselves. That’s what real men do.” Seriously – this article starts with a clear SHAME message as the subheading???? I am a man. I WILL NEVER agree that I am somehow a REAL man. Or that someone else is somehow NOT a REAL man because of something they DO or DID. The thing that makes me a MAN (a male) is that I have a male sexual organs. That pretty much qualifies me as male. Anything else I might or might not DO (short of a sex change operation) has… Read more »