Becoming a Better Man, To Do or Not To Do.
- Vincent Lee
- Aug 21, 2015
- 6 min read
Admit it, we have always been constantly searching for online articles about “How To Be A Man”, “How To Be A Gentle-man”, “What Differentiates Between A Boy And A Man”, and blah blah blah just to make us feel slightly better. But hell, manliness ain’t always easy.
The society has always been trying to professionally indoctrinate us to lift all the heavy stuffs, stable employment (which may or may not lead to higher income) and we are not supposed to cry when our dog dies. (Man, I cried hardly when my brown poodle died).
However, Mantelligence provided us some certain unwritten and unspoken tips of manhood, that may definitely help us on the journey to manliness. They say these tips will instantly turn you from a boy to a man, but nah, it is interesting to actually follow and apply the rule onto yourself, and share the others about the experience.
Here goes without saying.
1. Drink your coffee black
I am not a hardcore fan of sugar, so this one is acceptable. But sometimes I think I do need a little dose of sweetness in my life though.
2. Never go back to an old love
When past calls, do not answer; there is nothing new. Why would you be willing to go back to the old love when you already know the ending?
3. Remember names
It is actually sexy to remember all the names of people you meet along your day-to-day road. Ever been so embarrassed when someone calls you yet don’t even remember his or her first name?
4. Buy good underwear
I don’t actually practice these though, as long as it fits, I sit on it.
5. Don’t Burn Bridges
Exactly. In such uncertain world, you wouldn’t know the person you chronically hated when you were in elementary school, hand you the toilet paper in public toilet.
6. Exercise everyday
Exercise is no longer an activity. It is a mindset. Internet has provided you a wealthy information regarding the thousand benefits of exercising.. So why not start moving your lazy ass?
7. Read more
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." - Saint Augustine
Men couldn’t get any sexier except men who don’t read.
8. Always have your wallet
It is way too uncool forgetting to bring your wallet. Especiall you are with your date.
9. Pay with cash
Not sure about this, but if you are running out cash, why not using debit card? Circumstances apply.
10. Never say impeccable word
Always mind what you are saying as harsh words are by product of
11. Be the last one to sit down
Okay, this one doesn’t make sense. But that’s okay to stand the longest among others.
12. Make eye contact
The neuro-science of making eye-contact: Eye contact is a scientifically proved way of making person fall in love with you. Try not to over-do it. I am not paying your bail for suspicious-person-arrest.
13. Maintain eye contact
Only to those who you know beforehand. If something happens, read my previous point.
14. Okay look away too much eye contact
Okay stop being creepy and get your ass out from there
15. Don’t drink alone
Call your bros, they definitely will be more willing to accompany you for drinking! Especially if you are the one who will be paying.
16. Don’t be the ‘drunk guy’
Everyone has their own way of being drunk, but it is obviously uncool. I hope my friends will tolerate me for this.
17. Don’t be judgmental
Hell, you can find so many pe ople you can’t understand at the first glance. But they have their own circumstances so try to understand them a little bit.
18. Walk slower
Yes I prefer to walk slower because I look like a Donald Duck when walking at fast pace.
19. Talk slower
Slowly…Clearly..Say what you mean.. Don’t rap because you ain’t Eminem.
20. Eat slower
I know foods sometimes are irresistible, but you don’t wanna give bad impression to your date, do you?
21. Pay off your debt ASAP
You don’t know what do people discuss about you at your back and you definitely do not want them to talk about you running from responsibility.
12. Build an emergency fund
Life is unpredictable and it doesn’t hurt to save an emergency fund of three-four months of living allowances.
13. Build a nest egg
What is this should I nurture chick above my head.
14. Get over your fear of public speaking
The public-speaking skill is crucial in your way to enhance your career in corporate world. First timer will have hard time but once you accustomed to it, everything will fall over to places.
15. Drink more water
Hydrate yourself regularly. Not only because it is good, it also restrains your “false hunger”.
16. Give women more flowers
Some women love flowers, some women love branded stuffs, some women just love food. Either way, surprise them occasionally.
17. Find a sport or hobby you enjoy
For me, it is dancing. And I have enjoyed the benefits of dancing as well.
18. Do it at least once a week
Got more time? Do it more frequent.
19. Live in the present, but plan for the future
Life unfolds in the present. But so often, we let the present slip away, allowing time to rush past unobserved and unseized. The only way a farmer harvests abundance of crops in future is to sprinkle and nurture the seeds as diligent as possible.
20. Develop a code to live by
Any code that you, no matter how harsh the ground, will always hold upon the code. Man needs a code to live by.
21. Recite it every day
Consider it as a mantra. Spell it thousand of times so that you won’t get to forget.
22. Be good at cooking at least one dish
Indomie doesn’t count.
23. Don’t belittle people
You do and you will regret the most if you work under the people you belittle of.
24. Listen more, talk less
Talk less, as you are only repeating what you have known. Listen, and you may learn something you never heard before.
25. Think more, act less
Those who can keep balance in thinking and acting, will hold the trophy.
26. Be comfortable with silence
You know if you don’t have any positive things to say better shut it up entirely.
27. Learn the art of the handshake
Firm, strong grip, maintain eye contact.
28. Smile more
Smile! Smiling psychologically improves your mood and unconsciously letting people know that you are happy to meet him.
29. Tell the people you love that you love them
Every.Single.Day
30. Talk to your mom once a week
Once is way too scarce, why not making it every day? She would be more than happy!
31. Spend time alone
It is very healthy to be alone. We need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.
32. Get up before 8 every morning
Rising early is scientifically healthy and more hours to seize the day!
33. Don’t doubt yourself
Self-doubt is common. But in the end you only have yourself to count on.
34. Remove “I can’t” from your vocabulary
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.
35. Accept mistakes as something to learn from
Consider mistakes an opportunity to learn. Me myself is still struggling to apply this rule.
36. Tell yourself you’re happy
In some conditions, you may think this almost mean as close as deceiving yourself. It is okay to be sad, to feel worthless, to feel unfortunate. But we got to be happy to just simply being alive.
37. Believe that you’re happy
You are alive.. Which is great, thus you have to be happy about that.
38. Be romantic
Not every man can be romantic but you always can give it a go.
39. Pick your battles
Don’t run, man fights.
40. Build your willpower
Drink red-bull if necessary.
41. Always keep promises
Think you own a short-term memory? Goddamn take a note.
42. Be confident
You have got nobody but yourself.
43. Be a man of your word
This rule holds true with the number 51 and you know what to do.
44. Be a man of character
As Miss Howlett would say, it is more than just being thought well of by the world. It is more than simply appearing good, or even actually doing good things in public. Character is doing the right thing even when no one is looking, even when it hurts, even when it means personal loss, to the point of losing a good public reputation or favorable position.
45. Have morals
Morals are needed for a stable structured civilised society, and if you didn’t have it, maybe you are on the wanted list.
46. Have goals
What’s good of life without purposes? Go make some!
47. Enjoy your life
In the end of the day, being alive is damn nice. Enjoy it while it lasts.
In Conclusion:
These manliness tips are guidelines…. they’re not one size fits all. I leave you with two quick steps to becoming a better man:
First… adapt these tips to fit you and your life.
Second… always strive to be a better man, a better you.
In the words of Ernest Hemminway:
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
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