The Art of Being a Man

Being a man means getting to work?

True.

But perhaps being a man is also an art?

Consider this…

The moment a viewer recognizes a painting as beautiful, it transforms from an object into a work of art. The act of looking, then, becomes a creative process, and the viewer becomes the artist. Rachel Corbett

Art is imagining.

Art happens when you view an image and invest yourself in imagining… in truly seeing the work for it’s beauty and responding with feeling, with wonder or with a desire to join in the act of creation. The object of art can be unlimited: a sunset, a smiling child, dancers or musicians, any act of human or Divine grace, or a thought that captures your mind.

Art and being a man

Being a man is not about doing work.

True, work is what we must each do. But being a man happens only when you do more than just work.

Being a man happens when you begin to see.

Being a man happens when you invest yourself in imagining… in truly seeing yourself for you who you are and for who you can be, and then responding authentically.

Seeing will transformation you

Seeing can transform: It can transform a piece of colored canvas into a painting,  words on a page into a captivating story, coordinated sounds into a song that carries you, and clouds and sunlight into pure awe.

Seeing yourself for who you are will begin a transformation.

Seeing yourself: Your flaws. Your pains. Your cracks. Your hidden beauty and the art that you have within you.

Where you look determines what you will see

You can look at the sunrise or look at the effects of the sunrise. Or you can choose to look at your shadows. Where you look determines what you will see.

If you are like me, you suffer from the too-human ill of complexity. You make things more complicated than they need to be. Yes, being a man involves hard work. But it also means seeing and looking.

Today you need to do the work that is yours to do. But consider this.

Doing your work also means that you look in the right direction. You can look at the sunrise or its effects, or you can choose to look at your shadows. For where you look determines what you see. And when you see you become the artist.

Today, do more than just get to work. Take a moment to see.

In seeing, you become the art.

And remember: Photos may be captured, but the moments are created by seeing.

Check our Our New Adventure Series on The Good Men Project

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If you enjoyed this piece, you will want to read some of my other work:

To Heal, You Must Become the Art

Why is Emotional Healing So Much More Difficult for Men?

It’s Time to Question the Unfair Pressures Placed on Men

I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the latest and best of my writing. If you like what I have to say, please share my work with your friends.

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