Do you think you know it all? Maybe you have it all figured out… do you?! Even if that were true (?), how much of it did you learn from the male role models in your life? Who were the men who showed you how to embody basic masculine characteristics so you could be the man you are today?
Those role models most likely were / are:
- your father (my father, Patrick Hannon showed me Integrity, Determination, Commitment and how to “man up” and tell the Truth)
- an inspiring athletic coach (Coach Gene Allen showed me how to play with Honor)
- a teacher who treated other students and you with respect (Mr. Mulvehill showed me Decency)
- a probation officer (Mr. Gerald Magid showed me workable and clear Boundaries)
- a priest / rabbi / minister (Father Carroll showed me Compassion)
- more men in MDI than I can count showed me incredible heart centered Wisdom
I could not have learned these masculine characteristics from reading a book or watching television. I had to be shown. I had to have seen it in action…over and over again so I could see its success, apply it to my own life and then hopefully be a successful example to another man.
It takes other men to hold us accountable. It takes other men to pick us up when we fall, quickly dust us off, point us a few degrees in another direction and then send us on our way.
In this very busy time of life many men have either forgotten or lost touch with these powerful masculine characteristics
- which ones are you strongest with and which others not so strong…?
- what lessons have you learned that you keep to yourself?
- which lessons are you afraid to ask for guidance?
- maybe, as Landmark says, you don’t even know what you don’t know… that you don’t know?
Several litmus tests to see if you are well connected to, and are examples of, these powerful masculine characteristics lie in the following questions:
- is your Woman always complaining and unhappy?
- are your kids not listening (I mean all the time not listening?)
- are you always grumbling and frustrated at work?
- having trouble sleeping?
- do you have no energy?
Here’s what I’m saying… it’s my contention that when a man lives his life fully aligned behind his Truth and connected to being a natural example of a man with solid powerful masculine characteristics, then:
- his woman will feel safe, happy and well cared for (you can see the benefits of that, Yes?)
- his kids will know where the edge of the envelope that they constantly push against is and not go over the edge
- his work will be something that he embraces… and his work will embrace him in return
- the constant mental chatter will subside and sleep will be restful again
- the lethargy will be replaced by dynamic and clearly directed penetrative energy.
June 18th is Father’s Day. Only one day a year is reserved to take a moment to pay respect to and honor fathers. If your father is a man that taught you, and modeled for you, valuable and powerful masculine characteristics, call him and say thank you. (Call him anyways…he’s your dad!). If he is no longer present on the planet, take a moment to remember and acknowledge him.
If any of the other men who were role models for you are still alive, call them too. Let them know what a difference they made for you in your life. It is so easy to ignore the simple act of gratitude. The sooner we work that back into our regular lives, the better off ALL of us will be!
If this article spoke to you in any way, come out and visit us.
The Sunday Men’s Circle, which I host here in Los Angeles nearly every week, is a place where we build the foundation for a man to live a life of ease and grace. This kind of living comes from having integrated Core Masculine Principles coupled with a profound awareness of fully meeting ALL of life in ALL ways possible.
Life is too short to live it alone and empty of the richness of what it is to be man who operates in life with one hand on his heart and the other hand on his balls!