There is an unlimited amount of potential power waiting to be tapped into merely by you choosing to show up on a daily basis.

Why am I trying to emphasize this? Because the amount of personal growth and internal power I have discovered by choosing to perform tasks that push me towards my dreams, actively, has without any question transformed my immediate world.

Man looking through window at skyscrapers.

Small, simple, consistent action is transformative. The men of history and even this present age that are respected would not be who they are without the constant effort they took.

The businessman who pushed himself till he sold millions of dollars, the military general who studied strategy to save millions of lives, the politician who stood up for his beliefs. Men like this do not become respected or attain their dreams through being passive or sitting by waiting for others to do their bidding.

Men who take action change the world.

As I have read many books on business and listened to an exorbitant amount of podcasts with "successful" men talking, the common denominator I have observed at the core of everything that is preached is one simple straightforward thing.

"Do today, not tomorrow. Take action."

They are all men who don't wait around for someone else to alter the situation. They see a problem and they do something about it. I mean even think about the classic quote. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi is simply commissioning the reader to take action. Even though he was a non-violent activist, he still fought vehemently for what he believed in. HE TOOK ACTION.

Chances are you won't be Gandhi, and I am okay with that. What I am not okay with, though, is you not being yourself. Almost any person I meet or converse with sees an aspect of suffering in the world that they are passionate about. It may be the orphans in the inner city or corporate corruption. Whatever suffering they see in the world is, if they took action to lessen it, I know the world will be a better place.

I believe you have what it takes to bring positive change into this world. I dream of a day when there is a movement of men who have the desire to lessen the suffering they see in this world and who take consistent steps to work towards their dreams.

My desire is to inspire men to pursue their dreams and take action today. My hope is to create a movement of men who not only dream but do. My heart is to empower and equip men with the ability to ferociously battle for their values more vehemently than a soldier fighting for his last breath.

There is nothing more inspiring and life-giving to me than to be surrounded by and observe men living an assertive life.

This is my plea and petition.

Men arise. Take action today. Fight not only for your dreams. Fight for your life.

You have what it takes. Allow yourself to fail, learn from your mistakes, and then push onward. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

I cannot hold back any longer. I see too many men allowing life to pass them by. Allowing the girl they have had a crush on for years pass by. Allowing their job go to shambles or their lives to decay away long before death is at their doorstep.

The amount of personal power each man carries is baffling, yet, the amount used is minute. It is not too late or early to take action today.

You have what it takes to start the journey or process. I'll end with a classic quote. "Everything starts with one step, or one brick, or one word or one day." ~ Jeremy Gilley

Peace.

Timothy

Featured Articles

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4 Common Relationship Issues and How to Address Them

Thoughts around why life will never be fair to you.

I honestly feel a bit like an old grumpy man writing this, even though I am in my early thirties it has become extremely apparent to me that there is this mystical belief ingrained in western societies that everything we desire should be handed to us on a silver platter and when things don’t work out exactly how we want, then the best resort is to become a victim and not look deeply into the fact that our lives literally mean nothing to this world and we are entitled nothing.

man sitting on a bench looking to his left holding his phone and having headphones in

Men should manage their time better and here are 3 reasons why.

As much as it may seem out of the traditional scope of what being a man is, there is nothing I find more valuable than being neat and tidy about my time. Personally and professionally, I attribute nearly all of my abilities to show up as a man to my discipline within my calendar. And so, this is why I wanted to share with you that us men should always strive to manage our time better, and why.

a young boy standing in a field looking at a camera while the sun is setting in the background.

Is Masculinity Part of Male Identity?

If you were to ask a couple of men to give you their own definition of masculinity, what are the odds that you’ll end up with the same answer? You’re guessing right: a good, round zero. Neither you nor anyone else will ever be taught at school, or in a manual, what masculinity precisely means, and that is for a good reason. Because we can be a man in so many different ways, each one of us has to come up with his own definition, see if it holds any value, and these types of variables are exactly what started me on my journey.

a picture of a mountain touching the sky with fluffy white clouds.

Thoughts and reflections upon the topic of perseverance.

This is and has been a fascinating month for me personally and one I will look back upon in the future with a smile and a warm heart.

You see, for years I have worked on, spent countless hours, had endless conversations, and wondered why I continue devoting myself to The Man Effect. In this pursuit I have desired to encourage others, find answers for myself, and just be a man who is passionate about life.

in with a dark hoodie chilling on a bench contemplating life and looking out into the distance

12 Questions And Answers About Living Through Hard Times

During these very unique times of life, hardship for many humans is being created due to the pandemic. I felt it would be an appropriate time to ask for the wisdom of men whom I respect to answer questions around how to handle hardship and difficult times.

The way it is formatted is I will introduce each man who has answered the questions and you will also see ways to find out more about them as well.

I hope you find encouragement, wisdom, and hope in the answers written to these questions.

Thoughts and discussion around self-forgiveness.

Have you ever asked yourself, “How do I forgive myself?” It is a difficult and amazing question all at the same time. Recently, after one of the darkest years of my life, I have started to ask myself this question a lot and I am amazed by the amount of impact it has had on me.

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What is masculinity? That's a question every man should be asking himself.

The Start

What is masculinity? This question is a core reason why I started this blog and photography project here at The Man Effect. I have been pursuing and exploring this question for years. I love it and the ramifications on my life it has had.

Masculinity, manliness, and the nature of men are not only something that I believe every human should take the time to ponder on. As humans, it is also something we should conceptualize and analyze the belief of how men exist and represent themselves in immediate and extended communities.

Moving forward, I think it would be appropriate to build some foundation of a definition before we proceed with the importance and impact this question can and does have on our lives if we are open to going down this path.

man walking on a beach thinking about masculinity

15 Questions and Answers About Masculinity

Questioning what it means to be a man is something that I would consider to be a foundation to this website. So, in honor of that, I decided to compile 15 questions about masculinity that I have seen and heard asked often.

Now, before we jump into these questions, I would like to explain how the answers were created. I chose to ask four men who I respect to take time and share their wisdom. The next thing I will do is introduce them so you know a bit about the men behind these words.

Lessons I've learned from a traumatic brain injury and why discomfort in life is so important.

I am writing this article for two predominant reasons. One, so I can have a tangible point of reference when I reflect upon this season of life I have been through. Two, the possibility that the lessons I have learned may inspire one person to not give up on life as struggles confront them.

“Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears. Never let anyone bring you down. You got to keep going. “ ~ Chantal Sutherland