The Foundational Question For A Man

Have you considered what it means when someone tells you to “Be a man”?

Maybe they want to hurt your male ego and nudge you into doing something they want.

But these are just the societal expectations from a man and a way to make him “yield.”

Have you ever pondered the question ‘What does it mean to be a man’ for yourself?

It’s a meaningful question, and finding its answer has many potential benefits.

Knowing the true meaning of ‘A man’ can help you discover your true identity as a man.

It means you can overcome all the fake versions of yourself that people have imposed on you from the beginning.

It can be a highly liberating, genuinely enriching, and positively shaping change in one’s personality and how one thinks and feels about oneself.

It can pick you up from the wrong and put you on the right track, as your mental identity determines your life path. 

It can help you understand your goals and aspirations and help you achieve them confidently yet effortlessly.

In short, knowing your true identity as a man can help you live the life you deserve and want for yourself.

So, let’s embark on the fulfilling journey to explore your manhood.

And by the time you finish this journey, you will know who you are as a man.

It will be the beginning of a feeling within you that is beyond what society and its stereotypes have made you believe about yourself.

So, let’s find out the answer to the critical question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’.

What Does It Mean To Be A Man

Ten simple traits answer the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

A man may have one or more of these traits or harbor all of them in a balanced way.

The closer he is to possessing all the traits, the more complete man he becomes.

Let’s begin with the first true trait of a man.

Calmness

Calmness is the first answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.”

A true man is always calm, especially in challenging situations.

As the gravity of a situation rises, the calmer a man becomes.

It’s because a man has to deal with situations and come out triumphant.

So, his increasing calmness ensures that he maintains the required thoughtfulness and wisdom.

This dynamic intelligence lets him execute the best possible solution in a given situation.

But this calmness isn’t forced by him onto himself.

It’s not that he is fearful or stressed, but he still somehow “maintains” calm.

He finds natural ways to overcome and release fear if fear enters him.

Similarly, if he is stressed, he practices ways to calm himself down.

In both cases, he carves out calmness naturally within himself instead of using force or any other unnatural way.

It’s because he knows that calmness, when imposed, becomes toxic and a potent source of induced depression.

If he cannot stay calm, he is not afraid to express his fears or stress factors.

He embraces his feelings, emotions, and authentic self in all situations, making him steady, calm, and confident.

So, if a man gets an overload of tasks at work, he doesn’t panic.

He takes a deep breath and finds possible ways to complete the job.

If he still fears that he can’t accomplish the task in time, he isn’t shy about asking a friend for help.

His open mind, understanding of the situation, and willingness to seek external help make him naturally calm and composed.

If you are a calm man, you have the first quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Focus

Focus is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

A true man has the gift of the focus of a hawk.

He has a keen sense of observation and derives all his knowledge and wisdom from this skill.

He is quick to spot the essential details, tactical enough to zoom in on them, and intelligent enough to develop attention to detail.

His focus gives him valuable insights into his work and life, which he then uses to achieve success.

It is astonishing how well and for how long a man can stay fixated on the things that matter to him.

Thus, when someone calls a man unfocused, it doesn’t mean he lacks focus.

It just means that their focus isn’t on the things the other person wants it to be.

A man doesn’t have to work hard to build focus, and the “right things” automatically attract their attention and focus.

And once a true man has his focus on the things that matter to him, neither distractions nor attractions can break his focus. 

Because of their focus, it is relatively more straightforward for a man to become wealthy and successful.

If you are a focused man, you have the second quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Patience

Patience is the next answer to, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

A real man is always patient in his life.

He is patient with himself when he is not doing well or fails after repeated sincere efforts.

He is also patient with others when they do not meet his expectations.

Real men are also patient with life in general, as they know that everything has its process and time for completion.

So, he keeps working continuously towards his goals and keeps patience within his heart and soul.

He neither complains nor does he feel overwhelmed by failures.

But this patience may not come naturally to him, and he may have to work towards developing it within himself.

He develops patience by accepting failures, staying calm during such times, and not giving up until the last moment.

Thus, to develop patience, he undergoes simulations of being patient without giving up.

If you are a patient man, you have the third quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Consistency

Consistency is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

Consistency is one of the most essential skills in the physical world.

One can accomplish something significant only by being consistent in one’s approach.

When you lack consistency, it breaks momentum, thus making you fall into being lost.

Men understand this precisely, which is why they dominate the physical spaces.

Real men do not start the things they can’t follow or work towards consistently.

When they are entirely sure about something, they take up the job, stay consistently active, and finally accomplish it.

Being consistent is a skill that needs patience to develop.

Men develop consistency not by being adamant but by showing flexibility.

They withstand uncertainty, change, and many other challenges to teach themselves the skill of consistency.

To maintain consistency, they make themselves versatile and full of variety.

They stay consistent by learning various ways to accomplish a task rather than depending on only one or a few methods.

It allows them to stay at the job consistently until it gets completed with precision and satisfaction.

If you are a consistent man, you have the fourth quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Courage

 Courage is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

Men are the synonyms of courage and are born with it in their hearts.

Courage in men might result from the extra energy and physical power that nature has blessed them with.

But this doesn’t mean that men are courageous only in tasks that involve physical power.

They are equally brave in making difficult decisions and owning the associated responsibility.

The only area where men needed to catch up in showing courage was their personal and interpersonal spaces.

However, in recent times, men have also started building the courage to accept and express their true selves and own their feelings.

Courage in men is why they are willing to take risks in life, which ultimately helps them become successful in all their endeavors.

If you are a courageous man, you have the fifth quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Strength

Strength is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

Men are born with the strength to deal with life and its challenges.

They are capable of working through challenges and bringing out the best results.

And they do it based not only on their physical but also their mental strength.

They have the resolve not to give up even when the chips are down and the goal seems impossible. 

For a long time now, men have also shown the strength to carry the responsibilities of others on their shoulders.

They have assumed critical leadership roles at various levels, including family, reputed institutions, or the nation.

Thus, they have the strength to build their own lives, change the lives of others, and bring progress and prosperity to all.

If you are a strong man, you have the sixth quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Resilience

Resilience is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

Men also possess the mental and physical strength to withstand pressure and adverse situations.

They are capable of withstanding challenges and turning them into opportunities.

Men use their resilience to build other mental and physical skills in themselves.

For example, being resilient in challenging times helps them develop patience and focus.

It’s their unique way of steadying themselves, and they use it as an opportunity to enhance their mental sharpness and physical toughness.

Their resilience lays the ground for them to give the last push toward a goal or an objective.

Resilience is an essential skill that men have nurtured for ages within themselves.

Most things you see around you are a consequence of masculine resilience. 

If you are resilient, you have the seventh quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Dominance

Dominance is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

The word ‘dominant’ is usually used in a negative sense.

So, when we call a man dominant, it means he is aggressive or intimidating in his behavior to have his way.

But a real man isn’t dominating in a negative sense; he values the feelings and emotions of others, sometimes even more than his own.

Seeing other people sad pains him.

So, he can only be happy if he can keep others around him.

Thus, he is “dominant” or “extra cautious” of the well-being of others and wants them to have their way first.

It means that a real man is dominating in a positive sense; that is, he is responsible, respectful, and caring to others.

Being dominant helps him perform his duties diligently and ensures that people around him are happy and content.

If you are a dominant man, you have the eighth quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Success

Success is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

People have made the word ‘success’ synonymous with men, but in a limited sense.

Society expects men to be “successful” by earning lots of money, fame, and power.

Men are indeed the epitome of success but with a different connotation of the word. 

In addition to their physical prowess, men are successful in the sense that they can bring their softer side alive.

They can admit their mistakes, give assurances to improve, and show visible and impressive progress and growth.

They no longer shy away from developing feminine virtues like accepting and expressing their feelings and emotions.

It is a true capability of men on the show, and it is undoubtedly a big success for them as it revolutionizes their lives.

By accepting their true selves and coming to terms with their feelings, men can destroy loneliness, negativity, and stress.

To some, it may look like a step backward for men, but sometimes, balance is achieved only by going backward.

Only people with a big heart can do it, which makes men genuinely successful.

If you are a successful man, you have the ninth quality that answers the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

Leadership

Leadership is the next answer to the question, ‘What does it mean to be a man.’

A man is also a born leader.

Everybody expects him to be a natural and high-quality leader.

So, he is responsible for being the torch-bearer for his family and country.

He is determined to sleep empty-stomach but ensures that his people have the best possible meals.

He undergoes a lot of self-doubt, stress, and trauma but makes sure that his people feel satisfied, happy, and safe.

Men have already led the way in economic progress and growth; now, they have also taken up the task of spiritual upliftment for their people.

So, they are learning to understand themselves, embrace their vulnerability, and thus kickstart their spiritual growth and prowess.

Along the way, they set an example and path for others.

If you are a leader, you have the tenth and last quality that answers ‘What does it mean to be a man?’.

Believe In The Man You Want To Be

To know your true identity as a man, you must ask yourself, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’

There are many different versions of the “true meaning” of a man.

Some are misplaced versions based on societal expectations, while others are negative versions based on certain stereotypes.

The true meaning of a man is the one that reflects the true potential, ability, and behavior nature has created men with.

These meanings and versions encompass men’s mental, physical, and spiritual capabilities.

These holistic masculine virtues are helping men improve and grow leaps and bounds in their consciousness and, hence, in their lives.

Men who once knew only physical progress are taking their emotional health, self-care, and self-love seriously, too.

Embracing these hitherto excluded practices by men will soon revolutionize the meaning of men, manhood, and masculinity.

So, ask yourself, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’ and start living the authentic version of the man you are.