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The Man Effect

What does it mean to be a man?

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\\ 3 ways to break the feeling of being powerless in life. //

 

Are you sick of not feeling in control of your life?

Do you hate waking up in the morning because you don't want to go to work or face the day?

Have you spent your entire life trying to keep the peace?

Then what I am about to share most likely will speak to your core.

Sure, everyone has to do things they don't like and need a sense of finesse when navigating the storm of life. This doesn't mean you need to give up your internal power though....

Hand pointing at a work flow chart.

My heart breaks when I am talking with a friend who has fantastic dreams to become a Zoologist or author a book... but...  within the same breath that they just poured out their heart, they also pull out a verbal gun and shoot to death the very thing they were just giving birth too. 

In the name of keeping the peace, making sure everyone else is happy, or just fear, men unintentionally become submissive and lay their power down. 

In my personal opinion, everyone has done this at some point in life. That is not the issue....

What the issue is, is that if you have been doing this your whole life and continue to do so you essentially become a zombified clone of others expectations, and that is not how any human should live. 

So in hopes to help men out who feel powerless I wanted to share three simple ways to break free from the feelings of powerlessness.

-----

Step one.

{Admit to the fact that you have given up your power.}

If you don't know that your tire is flat on your car the chances of you fixing it are slim to nill.... 

The same applies to life. 

If you are not willing to admit that you feel powerless, then chances are you will never regain that feeling of being in control of your own life. 

So you might be asking how do I admit that I have given up my own power in life?

Do a self-audit. 

Sit down with a journal or a computer and start thinking about and going through all areas of your life. Ask yourself where do you feel powerless and out of control? Write it down. This makes it more tangible. 

Then from that point, you can take the next step.

-----

Step two.

{Ask for help.}

This can take many shapes in life. 

You can read books, listen to podcasts, seek out a mentor, talk to a friend who has gone through this, or hire a coach. 

There are many ways to ask for help. The main thing though is that you start trying. 

I can assure you, that you won't get the answers you want or that people will respond in the way you want them too.

BUT... if you are willing to humble yourself and ask for help.. and be willing to keep asking for help...

You will find it.

-----

Step three.

{Push... hard.}

Have you ever seen a pit bull latch onto a stick or a ball on the end of a rope? These dogs are incredible when they lock in on something it is all or nothing...

This is how you have to be. You have what it takes. It is within you. 

You just need to lock in hard. You need to make that inner commitment that you are going to do whatever it takes to overcome feeling powerless. 

You know how you operate best so make a plan to fight all the excuses that you will come up with. 

Overcoming feeling powerlessness is not easy but it is possible. 

It is uncomfortable but worth it. 

You got this. 

Lock in and fight hard. 

-----

I would love to hear your thoughts!  

Cheers.  

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tags: Powerless, Masculinity, Help, Push
Sunday 11.19.17
Posted by Timothy Wenger
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