What does it mean to be a man in this day and age? Let us know if these 6 tenets resonate with you — and add your own.
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Every male that embarks on the endeavor to manhood should understand the responsibilities that come along with being a man. To be clear, adult males are too frequently referred to as men simply because they have reached a certain age. That definition of man isn’t what we’re talking about. While it may be accurate to call them “men” in the practical sense, to be recognized as a man in the truest sense of the word there is a certain level of accountability that one must be held to. Besides age, there are countless other superficial criteria that are often used to define a “true man.” Some determine manhood by how many women you’ve slept with, how much money you have, or even the way you walk.
Beyond the abstract and the superficial ways to define a man and his role in the world, we believe there are six primary roles a man must strive for to excel and be defined as “a man.”
- Leadership – Leadership can be described as the ability to persuade others to support or assist in carrying out or achieving a certain goal. It doesn’t take a title to lead; you just have to be persuasive. If you are striving to be a man in the truest sense of the word, you have to lead with honor. Your hard work, willingness to share your knowledge with others, and courtesy to your fellow man will not go unnoticed, especially when it begins to turn into success.
- Service – The type of servitude we’re referring to is not like slavery, isthe ability and willingness to be in service and to help your fellow man. This is important to manhood because it is a key part of passing on the lessons of becoming a man. Many boys grow up without a father in the home or even a male role model in their lives. Some grow up with role models that are poor examples. It is the responsibility of good and wholesome men, who were fortunate enough to have good examples, to be of service to these young men.
- Provider – To be a provider is simply to provide. Keep in mind that providing means more than to give financially. Providing involves giving emotionally, giving time, and giving of ourselves. While money is vital to the support of children, family, friends, the intangibles such as time and emotions are just as important.
- Vision – Your vision determines your future. A vision is the beginning of the process for taking you from where you are to where you want to go. Everything you desire in life begins in your mind with a vision. With vision, we set out a plan and execute it to make our vision a reality.
- Grower – As a man, another one of your responsibilities is to be a grower of people. When you know and possess the characteristics of a man, it is your responsibility to impart those characteristics in others. This is basically the natural progression of the phrase “each one, teach one.”
- Protector – If we lead, serve, provide, have vision, and grow, but do not protect, we have done all our work in vain. While physical protection is important, we should keep in mind that we must also protect mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Both fists and words can hurt and cause harm to others, just in different ways. Men must be proactive in protecting themselves and others.
Join the conversation. What elements make a man in the 21st century? If you could add a #7 and #8, what would they be?
Article originally published here.
Service resonates with me. I believe by serving others we learn how to become more effective leaders, how to better share our vision with others, which characteristic is needed to teach that specific one and what protection is needed.
I would add devotion; the traits of dedication, loyalty and humbleness provide themselves to success in each of the tenets listed above.