How to Be a Better Man

1. Cultivate Emotional Intelligence<

“Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to positively manage one’s emotions, empathize with others, communicate effectively, overcome challenges, and resolve conflicts. By improving emotional intelligence, men can enhance their relationships, achieve personal and professional goals, and become more resilient.”

2. Redefine Strength
“We must challenge dated definitions of strength that involve suppressing emotions and avoiding vulnerability or disconnectedness in relationships. This restrictive view holds men back from realizing their full human potential. True strength involves having the courage to openly express feelings, foster intimate bonds, and lead with compassion.”

3. Prioritize Growth and Learning
“A commitment to lifelong learning and personal development is crucial for anyone striving to become their best self. For men looking to improve, expanding knowledge and skills can foster better decision-making, enhance creativity, and lead to greater success in various spheres of life.”

4. Embody a Spirit of Service
“Putting the needs of others before one’s own is a cornerstone of personal development and becoming a better man. By prioritizing service, men cultivate empathy, humility, and a sense of purpose beyond themselves. This practice fosters deeper connections with others and allows one to contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

5. Uplight Others
“True masculine strength involves lifting up partners, colleagues, friends and even strangers through genuine investment and care for their unique development journeys. Find little yet meaningful ways to champion growth in other men resisting vulnerability.

6. Meditate Regularly
“A meditation practice deepens your understanding of thoughts and emotions, equipping you to navigate life’s challenges with insight and calm. It helps you make better decisions, slashes your daily stress levels, and enhances your relationships. Meditation is the best method for becoming a resilient man with an unshakeable core.”

7. Never Stop Growing
“The better man will always prioritize personal growth throughout his life. He is someone who will focus on molding himself to become the man he wishes to be. To him, it will be expected that he must go beyond his comfort, as this is where he will be forced to adapt and overcome. With growth comes new skills, new opportunities, knowledge, and improved interactions with others.”

8. Adopt a Personal Growth Mindset
“Cultivate a personal growth mindset by consistently pursuing goals, whether related to career, hobbies, or relationships. Regular self-reflection can also help identify areas for improvement and track progress over time. Additionally, consider developing a growth mindset by embracing challenges and viewing failures as opportunities.”

9. Be a Man of Your Word
“Becoming dependable is something a man should aspire to be. It will make others trust and respect you more, as they know you will do everything in your power to achieve something you set your sights on. The best part is, your actions will resonate with others – inspiring them to follow in your footsteps.”

10. Be Open to New Experiences
“By embracing diversity and novelty, you can broaden your knowledge of the world and strengthen your relationships with others.

11. Have a Positive Attitude
“Having a positive attitude means focusing on the good in life and expecting positive outcomes. It involves being optimistic about events, interactions, and oneself. This doesn’t mean ignoring the negative aspects but rather acknowledging them and maintaining a hopeful outlook.”

12. Improve Communication Skills
“Effective communication is key to building and maintaining healthy relationships. This includes expressing emotions honestly, listening empathetically, and resolving conflicts constructively.”

13. Stay Humble
“One of the most important things a man can do to become better is to stay humble. Life is a constant learning process and there will always be room for improvement.”

14. Celebrate the Small Victories
“Remember, becoming a better version of yourself is a journey, not a destination. Be patient with yourself and celebrate the small victories along the way.”

15. Be Kind and Respectful
“A common misconception about being a man is that you have to be tough. A huge portion of media and society portrays men as being aggressive, dominant, and unemotional. However, a good man knows that being kind and respectful is much more important.”

“Be a man who treats everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their gender or social status. This will make you a better person and also set a positive example for those around you. Being a good person will not make you any less of a man, it will only make you a better one.”

16. Acknowledge Your Mistakes Without Shame
“Men are often taught growing up that it’s not okay to make mistakes. When you practice acknowledging you’re mistaken without shame, it can help you be easier on yourself and reduce conflict with others. This practice can turn the inevitable mistakes in life into opportunities for connection, learning, and growth.”

17. Know Your Blindspots
“In male culture, strength is praised and weakness is admonished. The old saying, “Are you going to cry like a girl or be a man and do something about it?” is a prime example. I think the biggest thing that men can do is know that this is a blindspot and while it might help them achieve in life, they must also understand how it can wreak havoc.”

18. Be Open to Multiple Perspectives
“Being open to multiple perspectives at once can keep you open to continued personal growth. While it can be comforting to believe there is always one “correct” answer, this belief can stagnate learning. Once you free yourself from this type of polarized thinking, it’s also easier to engage in complex and nuanced conversations with people who bring different perspectives.”

19. Be OK With Being Wrong
“Being able to be wrong and admit it. It’s tough to do this but it’s important. No one is perfect and relationships that last are not those which have active score cards. It helps to turn towards your partner (business or life) and admit when you were wrong and apologize. It builds safety, trust, and intimacy.”

20. Name it, Tame it
“Understanding why you do or say something can help you change negative patterns. You can start understanding your motivations by reflecting on the sequence of thoughts and emotions that precede your actions. As soon as you start recognizing and naming what’s motivating you, it slows you down and allows for intentionality. This is called ‘name it to tame it.’”

21. Try Relationship Counseling
“Relationship counseling helped me to grow in so many ways I never would have anticipated. Many people will go from relationship to relationship with similar patterns of problems. They look for similar partners and have similar conflicts.”

22. Embrace Responsibility
“Responsibility is the cornerstone of manhood. Take ownership of your actions, your words, and your decisions everywhere you go. Whether it’s in your professional sphere, personal life, or even among your peers, being accountable is essential.”

23. Be Vulnerable
”Vulnerability doesn’t come easily to men. Growing up, they were often taught it was a sign of weakness. Men were encouraged to be firm, hardened, and suppress their feelings. However, becoming a better man involves embracing vulnerability, living more from the emotional side, and expressing feelings openly with your partner.”

24. Engage Your Sense of Humor
“Engage your empathic (positive) sense of humor. Sharing humor creates health and wellness for yourself and others. Humor activates ‘mirth,’ the emotional benefit of humor, ‘wit’ the cognitive benefit of humor, and, perhaps most importantly in becoming a better man, ‘relational fusion,’ which is the social interactive benefit of humor.”

25. Take Off the Mask
“Many men, especially in Western culture, were raised to believe they must always project stoicism and avoid vulnerability. However, wearing this mask constantly is unrealistic, unsustainable, and emotionally harmful. Taking off the mask allows you to show your authentic, imperfect self and fosters healthier relationships.”

26. Cultivate Self-Awareness
“One tip to become a better man is to cultivate self-awareness and engage in self-reflection. Taking the time to understand your values, strengths, weaknesses, and emotions allows you to make conscious choices and grow as an individual.”

27. Ask for Help
“Don’t hesitate to ask for help or ask your partner for help. Being willing to admit imperfection and striving to improve is crucial. It’s OK to acknowledge mistakes and seek assistance. Your partner will appreciate your vulnerability and support your growth.”

28. Find Positive Role Models
“Find positive male role models that aren’t celebrities or high status people. Real role models will be more in tune with the struggles you face and not hide behind a fake facade and actually be more human. It gives you something to strive towards that’s actually more authentic and obtainable in your current context.”

29. Ask the Bigger Questions
“One way to become a better man is to ask yourself: ‘What’s a man supposed to be anyhow?’ Most cultures have set ideals about what a man should be. So the first step may be exploring what those ideals are. What things have you been told from boyhood about how a man ‘should’ act?”

“From there, you can ask yourself if those ideals mesh or clash with your personal beliefs. Your culture may believe that a man should be independent and keep all his emotions to himself. Has being the man your culture expects you to be negatively affected you in relationships? If so, then maybe being true to yourself is how to become a better man.”

30. Expect Resistance
“One advantage men can employ in the pursuit of being good is to understand there will be either natural resistance or formulated pushback. A good man can be known as one who acts for the betterment of themselves and others. A better man will be prepared to do so despite resistance.”