Men, Test Yourselves.

Rites of Passage and Manhood

MEN, TEST YOURSELF. OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Ancient peoples and tribes did quite a few things right, one of those being a rite of passage required for their boys to transition into manhood, the right to be called a man.

The Massai in Kenya send their boys out with spears to claim this right: slay the lion or be slain and forgotten. Now I’m not telling you to send your child out to fight a beast, but in a world filled with comfort, Netflix and distractions, young boys simply aren’t becoming men anymore.

They’re soft, docile and weak. They’ve never had their mettle or grit tested. They don’t know strength. They don’t know hardship or adversity (its not found on their iPads). I’m here to tell you, they must come to know these things, for their future and collectively – the world’s future – depends on it.

We are living in the resulting world of “weak men create hard times”. An entire generation of “men” who will not and cannot stand up for truth, justice, and everything that is good and right. They do what they’re told, allow the feminine to be attacked, injustices to be committed against neighbour, blood and offspring alike.

We know that in order to be a true example of a healthy masculine man, we need to have a purpose. That means we need to invest into our life, invest into our personal development AND make our own rite of passage.

Here are the three phases of a rite of passage:

1.       Separation : leaving your old life and comfort zone behind. Time to get uncomfortable and push for more.

2.       Transition: The in-betweens, new behaviors, patterns and ways of thinking, and passing certain challenges that have been set out. These challenges should be physical in nature, but that tests the mental and emotional states in the process.

3.       Reincorporation: The re-emergence of a man, from a boy, where he is recognized by other men for the accomplishment, and takes up status as a man.

A great rite of passage in today’s world would be something like going solo out into nature, a couple days hike in solitude. You conquer fears, you learn how to sit with yourself. Solitude always seems to be a necessary key to a young man’s development.

In saying that, there needs to be more than a physical change to become a man, there also needs to be mental growth, personal development and emotional intelligence. So many things are asked of men, but truly it is all for our good, our betterment. Men and boys are very different in nature, and a lot of that is how they view the world. Boyish pursuits over manly endeavours, going from being mostly selfish and focused on the self, rather than choosing growth and personal development. Every situation a man faces is truly a rite of passage, as we make the conscious choice to be and act as a man, or little boy.

There are many men walking around here still more boy than man, never having grown up.

A man is clear with his intentions. He knows here he is headed, his goals, what he needs from you and what he is capable of. A man is self assured, confident, and respectful. A man is aware of the world around him. I wont argue further what a man is, but simply state that today more than ever we need men to be at their best. When men and the masculine are walking in their power, it creates the safety for the feminine to open up and shower us and the world in love and creation. That is how we create the balance, bring back polarity and show the world love.

So, if you’re a man, I tell you now, to test yourselves, over and over again. Physically, mentally, emotionally. These are all strengths that can be built, through adversity and resistance. Just like you can strengthen and build your muscles, you can do the same to your emotional and mental “muscles. “Become a monster, and then control it”.

There’s a quote that says:

So this is my attempt at being a good man. Using my experience, my hardships and my own personal journey of personal development and betterment to help other men find their strength and become better. That means working on ourselves everyday. Building upon lessons, gaining experience when things don’t go our way, and developing into better men for it. The world is in need of Good Men.  Everyday men who have the balls and strength – forged through adversity and challenge – to stand up for what is right, good and wholesome. Return to their strengths in the masculine spirit and save a world that so desperately needs it.

Masculinity was attacked for a reason. It is the strength that conquers nations.