I was reminded recently about the importance of remaining in balance, which I believe is one of the marks of mature manhood. Remaining balanced means being in control of many aspects of your life: his emotions, (see my recent posts on the emotion of fear here, here, and here), along with his mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. When a man is in proper balance, he achieves harmony and consistency in his life. Balance allows him to navigate the challenges with grace, wisdom, and resilience. Demonstrating and maintaining proper balance also helps him earn the respect and admiration of others, especially his family and peers.
Over the next few posts, I will delve deeper into how to find emotional, mental, physical, social, and spiritual balance. I will explain more about each area and how maintaining a proper balance can increase the sense of satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment in your life.
First, let’s start with some basics.
The Basics of Balance
Speaking from experience, maintaining balance is very important. After struggling with workaholism and sleeplessness that teetered toward depression, I understand how many men become defined by their jobs. As I learned the hard way, balance means devoting the proper amount of time to your career while staying on top of your family responsibilities. It also means knowing the importance of self-care.
Proper balance also means having a healthy social life and strong relationships. This includes romantic partners (if you are not already married) and spending time with close friends. It also means caring for your family (spouse, children, parents, and siblings). Maintaining strong relationships can help men learn how to balance their masculine and feminine traits (which I will cover later in this series).
All in all, learning proper balance can help you become a good man.
Is Being a Good Man Enough?
A prior post, Being Good at Being a Man or Just Being a Good Man, included a quote from author Jack Donovan that says “There is a difference between being a good man and being good at being a man.”
Donovan explains that our moral virtues, concern about justice, and acts of humility, charity, faith, righteousness, honesty, and temperance, help us become good men. He also says that learning a handful of tactical virtues is how we become good at being a man.
Donovan continues though that being “good” at just one or the other limits men. He suggests that we need to become both a good man and become good at being a man.
But I will take it another step further. I believe you should also become a godly man.
Becoming a Godly Man
Regardless of your beliefs, all men need better friendships. As I wrote in Being Good at Being a Godly Man though, I believe good men become godly men when they begin to follow Jesus, who demonstrated every characteristic of being a well-balanced man.
I also believe that the best version of a man is when he has a small group of friends that I call GodBuddies. These are deeper, more authentic friendships with other men who will encourage each other, pray for one another, and hold each other accountable to become well-balanced.
Next Steps
Now, go find a friend or GodBuddy to talk through these posts about becoming a well-balanced man. My next post is about the benefits of finding balance as a man.
Wisdom for Men is based on my opinions on topics that help men become better men. The sources used for these posts are not fact-checked, but support my theory that men are better with deeper, more authentic friendships. My GodBuddy theory is based on biblical principles but applies to all men, regardless of their beliefs. Better friendships among men will help solve the crisis of male friendships and many of today’s problems… because the world needs better men!
[Feature Photo by Leo Visions on Unsplash]
