The Value In Authenticity
Be The 5: Mark Manson
Each month, we feature someone who has inspired us with their high level of Emotional Maturity, meaning they're “being the 5” and choosing not to take things personally, responding reactively or approaching the situation in a way that contributes to the problem.
Mark Manson, image courtesy of Twitter.
This month, we are proud to feature Mark Manson, a self-help author, blogger, and internet entrepreneur. As of 2021, he has released three successful, riveting novels including The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck, Everything Is Fucked: A Book About Hope, and Models: Attract Women Through Honesty. As well as an Audible Original Audiobook: Love is Not Enough. Mark is an excellent example of what it means to be a true and authentic LovEd man. Through Mark’s work, he teaches us to rethink how we view emotions, vulnerability, shame, and sexuality in our culture. Through his work, Mark has discovered a way to appeal to a large number of men by making it acceptable for them to read a book about emotions, beliefs, and feelings- without also excluding women from the narrative. Manson’s life advice has reached millions of people in a way that is not only ethical and honest, but also lighthearted and entertaining. Below are the most memorable takeaways from Manson’s inspirational and authentic lines of work:
ON THE ABILITY TO BE HONEST, VULNERABLE, AND AUTHENTIC TO YOUR TRUE SELF
“The catch is that everything you say must be as authentic as possible. There’s no shortcut. There are no tricks. You say it because you mean it and mean it because you say it. The more nervous it makes you, the better, because it means you’re being authentic and making yourself vulnerable.”
In Mark’s novel Models: Attract Women Through Honesty, Mark discusses a comprehensive system for attracting/dating women while also becoming a better man throughout the journey. Within its pages, Mark demonstrates the epitome of emotional maturity as he explains how being vulnerable is not about expressing your weaknesses and insecurities, but about placing yourself in a position to stand out, be brave, and self-sufficient. Being vulnerable does not mean being weak or overly sensitive; it means being your true authentic self, taking risks, and being courageous. He explains to men how when you open up, your significant other will open up, building a connection that can’t be replicated. You open an emotional connection with a woman by expressing your emotions, motivations, and your personal life stories. It’s about relating to feelings, not facts. This book is truly the most mature and genuine advice on how a man may attract women without imitating others' behavior, lying, or faking it. Mark’s ability to encourage men to be emotionally strong is the true example of a LovEd man.
ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-HELP
In his novels The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope, Mark discusses a wide range of eye-opening stigmatized topics including, but not limited to, mental health, emotions, self-love, and insecurities. Within these novels, Mark emphasizes self-improvement, not by avoiding issues or pretending to be happy all of the time, but by confronting and fixing problems. Learning to accept that life won’t always be perfect allows you to come to terms with reality and live a meaningful life. Mark mentions how he believes that “mental health and self-improvement are not something for the few or the privileged, but rather they should be a right for anyone who has taken on the responsibility to improve themselves”. Mark constantly places emphasis on inclusion discussing how these sensitive issues should not be limited to a certain gender or group of people, something society often likes to do. He states that because mental health impacts everyone he believes “it is critical that we all learn how to handle it properly”. In his “Managing Your Mental Health” guide, he notes how mental health has an impact on our daily lives, determining how we deal with stress, decide things, connect with people, deal with our emotions, and so on. Rather than providing readers with a guide to living a flawless life, he advises that we learn to embrace life's flaws, displaying Manson’s true authenticity and integrity.
ON THE SOCIETAL STIGMA SURROUNDING MEN DISCUSSING THEIR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND EMOTIONS
Mark shows us that a true man is defined by his ability to be vulnerable and honest, not by what he believes he must hide because of society's unjust preconceptions and stigma towards males. Manson has been part of the ongoing change towards dispelling false misconceptions about mental health through his various forms of work and outspoken advice. In his interview with Men’s Health, he discusses how it's not that men aren't interested in emotional maturity or opening up about their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. It's simply that most authors fall over a" masculinity tripwire" when they tackle such topics as there's still a social stigma attached to males expressing their mental wellbeing and, more ambiguously, their feelings. Mansons notes, “I think if there's been a breakthrough in my work, it's that I have found a way to appeal to a lot of men—to make it okay for them to read a book that talks about feelings, and values, and relationships—without also alienating women.”
Mark Manson exemplifies what it means to be authentic, brave, and vulnerable. His rawness, grit, and ability to be honest, not only with himself, but with others are part of the reason why he is so successful. By teaching men to speak from the heart and be brave enough to go against societal norms, he is actively dispelling the generational stigma against men regarding emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
Thank you, Mark Manson, for having the courage to be real, raw, and honest - representing true authenticity and vulnerability.
This article was originally published here.
