—
In case you missed it, I’ve written about a concept I call the H.E.R.O. mindset on my blog. It provides four fundamental aspects of what it means to be a hero, and offers a positive way of thinking about and living your life. That’s a big reason for my blog’s existence: to help you take charge of your purpose and meaning in order to create a happy life.
I truly believe in the idea of the “everyday” hero; instead of waiting for a chance to be the stereotypical hero who runs into a burning building to save someone or displays valor on the field of battle, my goal is to show you how you can commit small acts of heroism every day. This can help boost your own self-worth while simultaneously uplift the people around you.
Again, being an everyday hero means you don’t wait for the world to show you your own purpose; rather, you define your purpose yourself, then take action to achieve that purpose.
Real Heroes Give Back
Many of us wonder what we can do to be epic and live a fulfilling life. A great way to do this is by giving back to others. Improve other people’s lives, and you will soon bring meaning to yours.
But what can you do for others? One easy idea is to turn to your local community. There are many simple things you can do that will make a big difference in people’s lives:
Help Build a Public Park
Why not organize folks and build something worthwhile? For instance, you can build a new park where the local kids can play, where adults can lounge or jog or walk their dogs. Sure, you’ll need some planning permission and go through some bureaucratic hurdles in your town. But as the saying goes, nothing worthwhile is easy!
You may even need to scour the web for a rockin’ tool belt to hold all your tools. Also, building a public park can give you an excuse to finally get those power tools you always wanted (ahem, like that table saw you’ve had your eye on). Once you’ve got your table saw and you look awesome with your new tool belt, you’re ready to get started and build a brand new park for your community. Then, bask in the fact that you’ve done something truly worthwhile!
Raise Money for Local Schools
It’s all over the news: local schools are struggling for money. Budget cuts mean the education system usually gets hit pretty hard. That’s why another way to help the world locally is to raise money for the schools in your area. This will be greatly appreciated by parents, and you can make it for fun for kids as well and get them involved in fundraising events.
Help Make the Streets Safer
Finally, you should make an active attempt to keep your streets safe. Naturally, the police will do their best to protect your community. You should definitely not form some sort of vigilante group and take the law into your own hands!
Rather, you can contact your local police department work with them on starting a neighborhood watch group. They should be amenable to the idea, as they could always use more eyes on the streets. You can help keep your neighborhood free from crime, as everyone looks out for one another.
If you can make a difference in your local community, your life will gain a sense of deeper meaning. You can make every day more engaged and exciting, thanks to the knowledge that you’re improving other people’s lives. It’s a simple and impactful way to start living life with the H.E.R.O. mindset.
— This post was previously published on www.livethehero.com and is republished here with permission from the author.
—
What’s Next? Talk with others. Take action.
We are proud of our SOCIAL INTEREST GROUPS—WEEKLY PHONE CALLS to discuss, gain insights, build communities— and help solve some of the most difficult challenges the world has today. Calls are for Members Only (although you can join the first call for free). Not yet a member of The Good Men Project? Join below!
All levels get to view The Good Men Project site AD-FREE.
Register New Account
Please note: If you are already a writer/contributor at The Good Men Project, log in here before registering. (Request a new password if needed).
◊♦◊
ANNUAL PLATINUM membership ($50 per year) includes:
1. AN ALL ACCESS PASS — Join ANY and ALL of our weekly calls, Social Interest Groups, classes, workshops, and private Facebook groups. We have at least one group phone call or online class every day of the week.
2. See the website with no ads when logged in!
3. MEMBER commenting badge.
*** ANNUAL GOLD membership ($25 per year) includes all the benefits above — but only ONE Weekly Social Interest Group and ONE class.
*** ANNUAL BRONZE membership ($12 per year) is great if you are not ready to join the full conversation but want to support our mission anyway. You’ll still get a BRONZE commenting badge, and you can pop into any of our weekly Friday Calls with the Publisher when you have time. This is for people who believe—like we do—that this conversation about men and changing roles and goodness in the 21st century is one of the most important conversations you can have today.
♦◊♦
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
—
I'm a writer, speaker, and an advocate for everyday heroism. I have over two decades of experience in the practical application of literature, philosophy, psychology, and other disciplines. The culmination of my work is the Live the Hero program, a life philosophy that promotes personal development combined with service to others. Live the Hero combines the wisdom found in the arts and humanities with the latest discoveries related to research in heroism science and positive psychology. You can learn more at livethehero.com.
