I believe that everyone needs to be empowered to be their maximum self. Growing into our potential takes time, effort, and concentration. There are more distractions to take us away from this goal, than forces that drive us to be our best self.
For each man to stay on the path toward his own greatness, I have three words to use as a guiding light. We need to be Masculine, Mindful, and Motivated.
To frame something as Masculine is not to fall into some boxed in version of what masculinity is.
The word Masculine is not to be confused with Macho or Machismo. Rather, it is a sense of what makes a strong man strong in his character, determination, and fortitude. One of the most Masculine men I know, is also the most feminine in his affect. He is emotionally attuned, sure of himself and how he presents to the world. But there is no question that his choices are his own, thought out, reasoned and set in stone as right for him.
The Mindful man is the man who is aware of himself and others.
He is conscious of his likes and dislikes, and how those effect others. Mindfulness to me is a level of self-awareness that is without drama or arrogance, conceit or false bravado. The Mindful man can be exuberant, outgoing and engaging. Or quiet, contemplative and reserved. But in both cases, he is aware of how his personal style of being interacts with and complements other’s styles.
Motivation for each man is different.
Some are driven by personal challenges like reaching a two percent body fat ratio, others by having a large bank account, and still others, by the happiness they bring. The point is not that any unique goal is more objectively important than any other, but for the empowered man, his goal is what drives him. When a man has a goal, a purpose, he gives his own and others, their due respect. He honors his own methods and goals, and those by which other men set their goals and purpose. He then moves toward his own goals without the distraction of trying to judge others, or be taken off track by the irrelevant comments of those who would take him from his goals.
The three M’s of the empowered man, are there for each man to become his best self, and allow others to become their best self. It is a world view that allows for variety without conflict, choices to be made and honored, and men to find strength in the examples of others on how to be self-sure in a world of distractions and judgments.
—
Register New Account
—
Photo credit: Getty Images
