One of the most forgotten aspects of moving our society forward is the importance of honoring and lifting the men in our community. Men have expectations to live a life that is highly transactional. In most situations in life, men are valued for what they can “DO”. For a man to only look at his “self-worth” through that same transactional sense this can cause him to feel inadequate when comparing himself to someone else who may have more surface value.
Many don’t realize how speaking life into about what makes them special outside of their tangible achievements can significantly alter their sense of self-value and push them further than a pat on the back when they achieve things. A man who believes they are valued and loved regardless of life’s tribulations will push harder because they are not afraid of failure. They have a belief in themselves that breeds natural confidence, and success is a by-product of that feeling.
We should also make a deliberate attempt to lift our young men to avoid the surface masculinity that they will turn to for validation if they are not getting the essential pouring into from home or those they look up to. Men will find a positive feeling from those who will give them attention and worth, even for the wrong reasons. It leads to broken homes from men wanting to feel desired. It leads to crime, due to toxic allegiances to others as well as trying to obtain funds to buy status symbols by any means necessary.
When we celebrate our men, we give them a feeling of fulfillment, that lets them know we value them and the impact they have on their families, workplace, and society as a whole. A community that shows value to its men is a community in which its men return the favor and uplift everyone else.
Ebony McNeil
Founder of The Forge
