November 2023
Life is busy and time is precious. This monthly bulletin saves you time and effort by providing you with a range of resources relating to all things men and mindset.
Don’t just read the quotes. Instead, take a moment to consider them and hold them up against your life.
This month’s quote theme is: The Value of Adversity.
In the eye of a storm, it can be difficult to imagine an unwelcome experience will eventually result in some form of growth – and yet, it so often does. Most know the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but far fewer are familiar with the term Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). PTG is a resulting positive change in the wake of an adverse experience. Examples include renewed appreciation for life, enhanced personal strength, better-connected relationships, and recognising new life paths – even spiritual growth.
Life is far from easy, for all of us, but in adversity, there can be profound value. Take a moment to consider the quotes below:
Sit down, take a minute, read, reflect or journal on the prompts presented.
This month’s prompt theme is: Boundaries.
Simply put, boundaries are limits we set to protect ourselves, mentally, emotionally and physically. Societally, we live in a world where we’re exposed to constant demands, both personally and professionally. Without clearly defined and upheld boundaries guarding our time, space, energy and self-esteem, feelings of overwhelm and work-life conflict are almost inevitable.
I often state there are two types of people in this world, those letting life happen and those making life happen – men living with boundaries are most definitely the latter. Consider the prompts below:
Do I protect my time, space and energy well enough to live life on my own terms…
Am I comfortable sharing a ‘no’ with family, friends and colleagues – if not, why not…
If I were to create 3 boundaries that would enable me to live life more fully, they would be…
This month’s podcast recommendation is: High Performance.
There’s nothing sexy about this podcast episode, instead, it’s a compelling and informative listen featuring Steve Hare, CEO of Sage Group PLC. Steve shares insights from three decades of corporate experience, warts and all. This episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to be a CEO and high-level leader and includes how to face the challenges of leadership, how to cultivate a culture of trust and the key advice he would give entrepreneurs.
This month’s recommendation is: Jimmy Carr: Before & Laughter.
This book is a unique combination of personal memoir and self-help manual and is written in a similar style to his comedy - punchy and to the point. In it, Jimmy Carr describes how he came to leave a well-paid job as a marketing executive at an oil company to become a standup comedian. His main mantra is to prioritise the future. Essentially, this book is about deciding where you want to be and advises you on how to get there – with a healthy dose of humour along the way.
This month’s TED Talk is: No Sex Marriage.
Sexperts define a sexless marriage as having sex less than 10 times per year. In this thought-provoking talk, Maureen McGrath, author of Sex & Health shines a light on love, marriage, sex and intimacy and questions why so many marriages end in divorce. Instead of asking, have we lost lust in relationships, she shares how we can get back.
Given the summer we’ve all experienced, perhaps it isn’t surprising to hear our August walk was a blend of all four seasons - in one day!
16 men, including 3 new members completed a beautiful, circular, 8-miler starting and finishing at Talybont Reservoir. With a stiff climb to start, we were soon on the tops where mother nature treated us to some heavy showers and blustery winds. That said, we’re never deterred by the weather and as usual, rich conversation flowed.
If you’re reading this but aren’t yet a member, please know you don’t have to physically join our walks to be a part of our community. We use a simple but effective app called Circle, it provides dedicated communication spaces for everything from general chat to walk information, to networking opportunities and areas of other interest: motorbikes, golf, surfing and cycling.
Follow the link to register:
Join Men and Mountains
If any of the themes above resonate and you haven’t yet read my Amazon bestseller and UK Business Book Awards 2023 recognised book, Rethinking Masculinity, you can get it direct to your door from me for just £3 postage.
Here’s what Christian O’Connell, multi-award-winning radio show host had to say about Rethinking Masculinity:
‘It’s essential reading for men wanting to live with greater purpose.’
Ryan Jones, former British & Irish Lion said:
‘The most important book that all middle-aged men absolutely must read.’
Click the link to get your copy now: Get your FREE copy now.
