One of the best parts of the venture I am on is that it has led to some great new connections and friendships from across the country and world. This “venture” really means that I am finally walking in my purpose. It has been a brutal fight through some very hard years. But knowing my purpose and taking some steps, leaps, and bounds in it has created some important connections. These steps, many of them outside of my comfort zone, has allowed me to interact with some great men. It has allowed me to connect with many of you.
I recently had a conversation with a new friend over the phone. He is a young man and father who is headed in a good direction in life. He is diligently seeking his purpose as a man, and I know that he will soon find it. He and I met as part of a team inside of a mastermind group. He asked me if we could visit about some of the things that I am working on for men and fathers. As we talked, he said something that stuck with me. It was a profound statement and one that I believe each one of you should latch on to. He told me,
“I want to be around other men who know and are fulfilling their purpose.”
He gets it! If you are in pursuit of your purpose, then this is one of the main keys to unlocking it. One of the greatest ways to understanding direction in your life is to be around other men who are confident in theirs. If you want to know and walk in your purpose, then stop isolating yourself from the men who can help you find it. You must put yourself in places where you can connect with other men who are either on the journey or leading the way.
The Two Questions
I believe there are two questions that burn deep inside the heart of every man. One of those questions is, “Who am I.” The other, as Wild At Heart author John Eldredge says, “Do I have what it takes?” Do you have what it takes? The answer is, Yes! The real question, is do you realize it? This takes us to the first question, “Who am I,” or in other words, “What is my purpose?”
There is not a secret recipe or a 12-step program to answering this question. The answer is unique to you. I, nor anyone else, can tell you what you are supposed to do in life. You, like everyone else, have to be willing to take the journey. I encourage you not to neglect this journey. It seems that many men give up when they see that the journey is difficult. The journey, the process of finding purpose, is as important as any end result. The journey is where you find the tools and training necessary to carry out your calling.
This is why it is important to be around other men who are fulfilling theirs. Although they cannot tell you what your purpose is, they can show you the way. They can inspire you. They can ground you. They can walk with you. They can keep you accountable. Other men cannot walk the journey for you, nor can they fight your internal battles. But they can be there to help you remain focused.
You most likely have heard this old saying, “Friends are like buttons on an elevator. They either take you up or down.” Who are your closest friends? Who are the men in your life? Are they lifting you up? If not, then find the men that I am writing about. Find the men who are going to help you reach your potential. Just like the friend that I recently spoke with, you too have to understand this important concept. Get around men who know their purpose; men who have been on the journey.
