The 10 Commitments of (Revolutionary) Manhood

Art by Bryce Widom

The ten commitments of Manhood if practiced, will greatly increase the quality of your life.

Not only that, but you may find yourself more trustworthy as a man.

Maybe these can replace the ten commandments. Why are people following rules that someone wrote that long ago? WTF?

Let these be commitments you make in order to be a revolutionary man and more importantly, to be the kind of man you are capable of being.

I strongly recommend posting the commitments in a location where you can see them every day.

Make it a daily practice to review your commitments. Remember these are commitments you make to yourself, not to some higher power, God, or authority figure. If they don’t fit for you exactly, tweak them.

If you wish, bring these into your men’s group and use them as discussion topics and accountability measures.

Commitment 1. – Potential

I commit to reaching my potential and being the man I am capable of being. I commit to working on myself until I die. I am done with prioritizing comfort, safety, and security. No more hiding. I will get out of the bleachers and into the game. I am no longer willing to be a spectator to my own life.

Commitment 2 – Shadow

I commit to engaging in my shadow and blind spots. I commit to receiving ongoing feedback about whatever is unconscious in me and using practices that help bring it into the light. At the same time, I will also no longer “bury” my past and pretend I’m over it. If something from the past is lingering, I will address it.  I will “update” the files on myself and others.

Commitment 3. – Authority

Me first! I commit to being true to myself, first and foremost. I commit to trusting my own experience above all else and getting to know my inner authority. No one holds the authority on me except me.

Commitment 4 – Relationship

I commit to getting my relationship life handled. I commit to opening my heart, no matter the cost. This means being willing to set boundaries, not shying away from conflict, having the balls to be truthful with others, learning deeply about my sexuality. I commit to finding a mentor, doing therapy and/or coaching, participating in a men’s group, and whatever else it takes to have deep, meaningful relationships. I choose relationships that push me to grow.

Commitment 5 – Maturity

I commit to growing myself up. When someone else pisses me off or hurts me and I regress into acting like a young boy, I will reaffirm my commitment to learning how to be less reactive and developing more mastery.

Commitment 6. – Responsibility

I commit to taking full responsibility for my life. No one is responsible for my situation and my life except me. I commit to no more blaming and no more playing the victim I therefore commit t o knowing what I want and finding and living my purpose.

Commitment 7 – Finances

I commit to growing up financially. I will get my money shit together, which doesn’t mean focusing on how much (or little) I make, but rather on diligently uncovering the entirety of my relationship with money. I will learn how to be in conscious relationship to money matters. I will know the relationship between inner wealth and material wealth.

Commitment 8 – Service

I choose compassion over aggression. I commit to living a life of service. I will value the people around me and cultivate both the intention and capacity to help them in ways that matter to them. I seek to understand idiot compassion versus true compassion.

Commitment 9 – Social Justice

I commit to a life of social justice, non-violence, and equality. I commit to being and staying aware of my privilege and power in relationship to other men, women, and anyone of a different sexual orientation, race, culture, or ethnicity.

Commitment 10 – Gratitude

I commit to having fun, celebrating what is already “right” in my life and being grateful for what I have. I also will practice an attitude of gratitude for every challenge in my life and seek to embrace its wisdom.

Are there additional commitments you would add to your personal list? Share them with the other men here.