In our last blog post, we talked about some of the traits of a strong woman. In this post, we will focus on what defines a strong man.
Often, we talk about the pressure that women face from the media to have the ideal body, wear appropriate clothes, and have the perfect family. However, it isn’t just women that feel the pressure.
According to Research News, studies have shown that many men feel pressure to have muscular bodies; because of this, some males feel pressure to use steroids, or they develop eating disorders and an unhealthy obsession with weightlifting.
The Atlantic reports that a new study published in the January issue of JAMA Pediatrics reveals it’s not just adults feeling the pressure—“nearly 18 percent of boys” are also highly concerned about their weight and physique. Boys in the study who were extremely concerned about weight were more likely to be depressed and more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors like binge drinking and drug use.
Instead of focusing on what it means to be a strong man in the typical way we see on television and in the media, let’s focus on what it means to be a strong man for your family, your friends, and yourself.
A strong man isn’t concerned with meeting societal stereotypes. As The Wallen Way puts it, a real man knows that “Being a jerk isn’t manly. Calling somebody a slut is not cool. Picking on somebody isn’t funny.” A strong, secure man doesn’t act like he likes football or hates chick flicks just because society says that is the way it’s supposed to be. He is uniquely himself and doesn’t play into what others think he should be.
A strong man takes responsibility. Instead of placing blame or attacking someone about a situation, he makes an effort to improve it. It’s about being responsible enough to know what he can handle and what he can’t.
A strong man knows how to love and respect his partner and those around him. One true test of a man (or anyone for that matter) comes in his daily interactions with his girlfriend, wife, or partner. He knows her secrets and keeps them. He understands her past the best he can. He knows when a friend needs help or when a co-worker needs a compliment.
A strong man asks for help when he needs it. It’s been said many times and in many different ways: men don’t like to ask for help. However, that isn’t necessarily true. A man should know when to ask for help, whether it be from a co-worker, his partner, his friend, or a therapist. He knows his own body, and he knows what he can handle and what he can’t. When he can’t handle something, he asks for help.
As you can see, a strong man and a strong woman are similar creatures. Being strong has nothing to do with appearance; it has everything to do with the type of person you are on the inside.
How do you define a strong man? Let us know in the comments. If you’d like to set up a time to meet up with Reka, you can contact her by phone at 402-881-8125, by email at reka@omaha-counseling.com, or via Twitter or Facebook.
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photo credit: Snowdon Sunrise via photopin (license)
