Munroe Global Featuring: For Men Only | Dr. Myles Munroe and Be a Man

You can purchase the complete album via the link above. Available in CD and MP3
 http://bit.ly/StraightTalkToMenCD

Straight Talk To Men Titles:
Disc 1 – For Men Only
Disc 2 – How To Love Your Wife
Disc 3 – The Wife’s Husband: Head or Boss
Disc 4 – The Duties of a Father to his children

Many men are questioning who they are and what roles they fulfill in life—as men, fathers, and husbands. This uncertainty is disrupting their personal and professional lives, leaving them frustrated and causing them to live far below their potential. This message highlights cultural attitudes toward men and redefines the purpose God has given them for the many roles they play.

Be a Man

By: Damien Dodd What does it mean to be a man? Are there requirements to be a man? Is it necessary to you to be "considered" a man? These are very important questions that men may catch themselves asking. Unfortunately, answers to these questions are not that clear, and pondering them may be detrimental to one’s psyche.

There are certainly stereotypes about men and fathers, gender roles we fill, as well as societal pressures that can make men feel as though there are prescribed attributes and characteristics that are imperative in "being a man". They can influence men's perspectives on their appearance, the way they look at their career and most importantly their emotions. Understanding these pressures, both overt and covert, is necessary because they act on us, whether we like it or not. They may fuel our anxieties, insecurities and fears. Therefore, we must take them into account when deciding whether they will be incorporated into our own personal definition of "being a man".

Men more commonly identify themselves via their profession. "I am a doctor, lawyer or architect", at times, over-looking key roles as fathers, sons, friends and coworkers. Some of us put so much into our professional images that it comes at a cost to our relationships outside work. What effect does this have on those who have historically female-affiliated jobs like male nurses, airline attendants and hair-stylists? Are they not "real men"? What about those who are unemployed? How would they identify themselves?

Historically, men have been the "providers" or "breadwinners" of the household. This puts a great deal of pressure on men to be financially successful, not just enough for ourselves, but for our significant others and children. How does a man define himself if he is not the sole household income or primary "breadwinner"? Is he not a "provider"?

We are expected to be strong, brave and never to let our emotions get the best of us. We are told "real men don’t cry" or is it that a "real man is not afraid to cry". The point is that there are a great deal of conflicting perspectives regarding what it means to be a man, and there is no way to satisfy them all. If one allows others to dictate how they feel about themselves, they may expend a great deal of energy trying to appease other, making their own happiness a mirage.

We must decide for ourselves what attributes we think are necessary in "being a man". We must also be aware all of these pressures, because they act on us directly and indirectly. So, before you ask yourself, "Am I a man?" One must answer the question, "Is it important to me to "be a man"? And then, more importantly, am I happy with the type of man I am?

For more information on this and other subjects, feel free to contact Damien Dodd at the Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Clinic in Arlington Heights, IL at 121 S. Wilke Rd Suite 500. Check out the upcoming Men’s Group meeting on Thursday nights at 7pm starting March 3rd, 2011. Register now by calling (847) 253-9769 or email Damien personally at damien@lighthouseofillinois.com.