Rules For Men | Where Do Your Rules Come From? Episode 271, September 16, 2022
Real Men Feel exists to remind you that men are human beings entitled to feel and express the full range of emotions. I look forward to the day when a man can cry in public, and people notice and say to themselves, “Now, that’s a man.” Not sarcastically, not ironically, but because they recognize that publicly expressing emotions could be the bravest, most courageous thing a man can do.
Recently I got an email and the title was The Laws for Manhood. I rolled my eyes and marked it to follow. Anytime someone makes a list of any rules, laws, or vows that all men must follow in order to be men… I want to puke. I had the time to go back and read that article earlier today.
There are rules and laws that society teaches us that are meant to create a better community. Some rules are passed down from parents and schools intended to make us behave and be quiet. There are unconscious rules often tied to our gender and social roles; Those sorts of things we pick up as kids that our parents model in their actions or words.
Any unconscious rule can get you into trouble. Since it is unconscious, you don’t realize you are abiding by it and don’t realize where it came from to begin with.
The oldest rules I could think of our the 10 Commandments.
I don’t know anybody who’s never broken some of those.
That reminded me of some rules I do agree with. Friend and frequent guest of this show, Jed Diamond, wrote a book called 12 Rules of Good Men.
I believe the best rules to live by are ones you’ve proven from your own experience. They can undoubtedly originate from someone else, but if any rule, law, guideline, or vow about being a man doesn’t bring more joy to your life – I strongly suggest questioning it.
If you have a rule to live by that you think works great, share it. Wherever you are listening to this, post a comment or email me at realmenfeel@gmail.com.
Links
See what other guys think — quora.com/What-are-your-10-laws-of-manhood
Read Jed Diamond’s book — 12 Rules for Good Men
Check out the ManKind Project – https://mankindproject.org
Book a call with Andy → https://theandygrant.com/talk
Grab the Real Men Feel Guide to Friendship for a list of places you can meet more male friends and get on the Real Men Feel weekly newsletter.
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