Having a strong moral base will make it easier to remain true to who you are even when things get tough. Committing to your values may take courage from time to time, but it’ll be well worth the effort. To fix your values firmly in place, take time to actually write them down. Keep the list somewhere secure and occasionally return to it, especially when your present circumstances start testing those values.
Challenge your negative thoughts. Instead of assuming that things will go poorly, acknowledge the possibility but fix your mind on what you need to do to prevent failure from happening.
To some degree, you do need to live in the moment and enjoy your life for what it is. Don’t let the blessings your life disappear because you’re too focused on the future to pay attention to the present. On the other hand, failing to set goals for yourself can easily lead to stagnation, which can cause your life to feel less fulfilling than it could be.
Instead of following through with a knee-jerk reaction, take the time you need to calm down and think through things rationally. React according to reason rather than emotion. This doesn’t mean you can’t have emotion, of course. On the contrary, accepting the fact that you do have feelings can be a difficult thing for some men, but the sooner you admit it, the easier it will be to control those emotions instead of letting them control you.
Don’t blame others for your own lack of success, and don’t focus on the negative behaviors others have done when evaluating why things went wrong. You have no control over the things other people do to you; you can only control your own actions, so it makes sense to focus on your actions when evaluating the past and moving forward.
Hanging out with your friends can be an important part of relaxing, but you should also throw some alone time into the mix. When you do spend alone time, unplug from the world as much as possible. Get off the computer and turn off your phone. Spend time in solitude and give yourself a chance to recharge.
You don’t need to live on salad and protein smoothies to have a healthy diet. On the contrary, the healthiest diets are also the most balanced. You may, however, have to resist the temptation to binge on junk food. Man cannot live on bacon and deep-fried candy bars alone. Try to exercise as soon as you wake up in the morning. You can go to the gym if doing so appeals to you, but if it doesn’t, you can still take a brisk walk or get your blood pumping with a few jumping jacks. [9] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source
Bathe regularly. You don’t need to swim in your cologne, but you might consider dabbing some on for a special occasion, like an important date. If you have facial hair, keep it trimmed. If you only have stubble, keep it shaved. Wear clean clothes that look good, and make sure that they fit the occasion. Jeans and an old t-shirt are fine for a night with friends, but you should look a little sharper for a job interview or a first date.
You need to understand the world you live in if you want to function in it as best as possible. This doesn’t mean you can’t devote time to your hobbies and interests, of course. These things are important since they help you wind down and recharge. Simply learn to prioritize your attention, and learn to enjoy your hobbies without letting them control your life.
Don’t spend money you don’t have, and save some of the money you do have. Setting a little of your paycheck aside in your bank account or investing some of it wisely can give you greater financial security during hard times.
Find something that interests you and learn about it. This might mean doing something mental, like studying a new language, or doing something physical, like learning karate.
Being “hot-blooded” is often viewed as a masculine trait, but it generally isn’t wise. While you shouldn’t be afraid to take action, recognize that some impulses are not necessarily good. A quick evaluation should be enough to determine whether or not it’s safe to proceed. For instance, if your first reaction is to insult your coworker or subordinate for a minor mistake, it’ll be to everyone’s benefit if you pause, question your impulse, and choose a better way to deal with the issue.
Empathy isn’t something that comes easily to many men, and it’s easy to lose sight of other people when you’re focused on your owl goals. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep persisting in your efforts to meet the spoken and unspoken needs of other people. This does not mean sacrificing your self-respect, of course. There’s a fine line between sacrificing for others and letting others walk all over you. The former is your choice, but the latter is a choice forced upon you that you blindly accept.
Try not to say or do things you don’t mean, even if you’re trying to spare someone’s feelings or defuse an ugly situation. Being caught in your insincerity will cause people to lose confidence in you, which will make it difficult to have a successful personal or professional relationship with that person. Take two major action steps here: stop telling white lies and keep any commitments you make (unless a true and unavoidable emergency prevents you from doing so).
Both men and women need to be equally involved in their families, but while this is already socially expected of women, society doesn’t often place the same degree of expectation on men. For instance, a working mom may receive questions regarding how she balances her career with her family, but a working dad probably won’t. By striving to meet your obligations within your family, you can build your relationships while also building your personal moral character. Families are life-long testing grounds, and treating your family well teaches you to treat others outside the family with similar care.
The romantic realm offers the most obvious example. If you want to ask a girl out, ask her out. You might get rejected, but even if you do, her rejection at least frees your attention and allows you to start looking elsewhere. As a non-romantic example, consider the dynamic between you and your friends. Instead of being the one who gets invited to things, start reaching out and extending the invite yourself.
No one shares your exact history and current circumstances, so no one will think in exactly the same way you think. Moreover, each person is in a different stage of personal growth; you can probably look back on your life to a time you’re not especially proud of. Once you learn to accept the strengths and weaknesses of other people, you can start influencing them from a place of genuine concern rather than harsh criticism.
