So who are you? The Journey of Manhod, Day 2

So, who are you? Previously, in "Your heart, it's worth fighting for" I asked that question and now what would you tell me in response to that question? If you can't tell me who you are really without stopping to think about it, then you still need to keep digging to find that out. By the way, I didn't ask what you do, I asked who are you. If your response was to tell me what you do for a living, career or go to school, that isn't who you are, it is what you do. As you can see this is a deeper question than it seems to be right at first.

"If your response was to tell me what you do for a living, career or go to school, that isn't who you are, it is what you do."

Who am I, you ask. Well, like most young men I am still figuring that out too. I know that I am a young man who desires more, more than simply getting by, I desire a life full of life! I don't want to be a living dead person, with no passion, desire or adventure in my life. I will be honest though, college has been keeping me pressed this semester and my level of adventure isn't at the level I want and I am starting to realize even now as I write this I want a more abundant life. Now, don't make the mistake of thinking I am talking about being a wealthy man with lots of cash, because lets be honest having lots of money isn't the key to a living an abundant life. If it was why would the super rich and famous have so many problems? Look at Hollywood, rich people with lots of fame, but examples of how happiness can't be bought. I don't desire to be poor and want to never have to worry about getting by. We have needs as men that are partially met with finances, but money alone will not bring with it an abundant life.

I desire to make more close friends and to go deeper with the close friends I have. We all desire to be loved and accepted, I know in everyone's heart we have the desire to be loved by others and accepted. It is a part of our hearts and who we are, that we can't trick or lie to, it's a desire that is there and if we ignore it or don't find that love and acceptance, we won't ever find the true and abundant life that our hearts long for.

I am confident in who I am, but I will be honest that self confidence for me wasn't something I was born with. In fact I don't think any one is born with bold confidence. Putting up walls around our heart or masks to hide our insecurities isn't true self confidence either. While we may be able to fool people, we would block the desire of our heart to be loved by others. People can't fully love us, if they don't know us. Loved ones can love you because they know you and you have shared memories together, but in being able to have loved ones who know you well and know the mistakes you have made, but still love you unconditionally, that is a incredible love that we need in the journey of authentic manhood. 

"Putting up walls around our heart or masks to hide our insecurities isn't true self confidence.."

I have a couple of friends who know me that well, and who are very good friends to me, who I know I can share anything with and they will not reject me. That is an essential thing to have in your journey to manhood, but you have to be careful and building relationships like that with other men it takes time. You can't just pour your heart out the first time you meet someone you want to get to be a better friend with. Think if a guy did that to you, how would you respond? However, friends you can trust with time can grow to be close friends that you can open up to and share anything with. Friends who in time will also do the same in sharing with you. 

Well now that we have ventured a little farther down this journey into manhood, lets stop here for now and get out your notebook or journal and look over what you wrote from before. If you didn't write down what your responses were from before, can you remember your exact thoughts from before? If you are reading this shortly after the previous article you probably can, but do you think any of your desires or thoughts on who you are have changed or started to take form? I really encourage you to join with me and the other young men who are journaling along the way as we venture down this journey into manhood. It will have a great significance in helping you along the way and in realizing how much you have matured along the way.

Here are some questions to further along our journey so far into manhood by expanding on who we really are, in getting to know ourselves more. These aren't going to be easier questions to answer either, but hang in there and look forward to the next article! I look forward to writing it.

1. Why have I developed and grown into the young man I am today? Are you the man you always longed and desired to one day be?
2. What one dream do you look forward to achieving in your life and why?
3. Who is the most important person in your life and why?
4. What is it like being you?
5. What role does conflict play in your life? How do you deal with conflict and react to it?
6. When do you feel inspired?
7. What do you think your closest friends would say about you at your funeral if you died today?

Message Board You can discuss this article with other young men on the YHM forum, to go to this day's topic click here.

Take some time and think about this, when you are ready to go to day 3 "The rocks that sharpen you." Click here to go to the next day.