When your son asks you what it means to be a man, what will you say? It is imperative that you have a standard against which you can measure how you’re doing as a man and toward which you can guide your son. In part 2 of this conversation, Mark and John offer a definition to help you develop one for yourself or to advance your thinking on this topic toward a better one.
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Expanded Notes:
- Courage — The ability to face fear and adversity and not be overcome. Rather than retreating or hiding in or from the moment.
- Honor — The posture of respect and esteem toward others and a resolve to right conduct in your relationship with them. As opposed to being judgmental, arrogant or selfish in your conduct and interactions with others.
- Faith — Believing that we have a divine Father who loves us and is actively working on our behalf, for our good and the good of others. The opposite of believing we are nothing more than chance or relying only on scientific observation and not acknowledging the mystery or the unknown of life.
- Love — The decision to actively and purposefully pursue the wellbeing of those for whom you care for and have influence, including yourself. Rather than behavior that is focused only on self gratification and gain.
- Responsibility — The act of owning your choices and the consequences that result from those choices. The opposite of playing the victim and expecting rescue from someone else.
- Integrity — The resolve to be and live consistent with who you are and what you believe. Rather than being and doing in the moment what is easiest or most expedient to please or appease others.
- Strength — The power — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual — to stand strong and not be moved. To know who you are and where you are going. The opposite of weakness which leads to compromise or the inability to be who you want to be or do what you want to do.
- Leadership — The ability to guide yourself and influence others toward a vision of the future that does not yet exist. In contrast to lacking command of yourself and not engaging in opportunities to influence and impact others for good.
