My Idea is to create a safe space and network where men on campus can come and be themselves and get support they need.
Imagine a circle of men, a circle of brothers, where everyone listens not only to what you say, but also to the truth beneath your words. Everyone is in tune with your voice, your emotions, your energy ? everyone is intent on receiving everything you communicate; where everyone listens to hear the very best in you, even when you can’t hear it in yourself.
Imagine a circle which will remind you of your commitments so you can hold yourself accountable and keep you moving forward toward your aspirations and goals.
Imagine a circle of men who are deeply curious about what it is that makes you tick, what you value, what you are most passionate about in your life; a circle that will help clarify your vision and provide tools for action and learning that lead you to the life you want.
Imagine a circle of men who absolutely tell you the whole truth about where you are strong, and where you sell yourself short. Where men know you’re capable of more than you believe, and they know what you want.
Imagine breaking free of limiting beliefs that sabotage you, having the powerful part of you called forth with a new set of beliefs. Imagine a circle where you can experience and develop a new leader within you. A place that is safe to be who you really want to be.
We build brotherhood.
A ‘regular guy’ can step into this space and feel empowered to tell the unvarnished truth about his life. We’re not here to put on a show for each other. We’re not here to set ourselves up in opposition to a perceived ‘other’ in the world. We’re not here for salvation. We’re here to cut through the bullshit. We’re here to step through the fear of showing up authentically, powerfully, and vulnerably, warts and all, in our lives. We’re here to find and explore our purpose.
If you are a change agent, a man working with others for the good of society – the skills you can learn here are essential to your efforts to create sustainable solutions in the world.
If you struggle with commitment, with discipline, with emotional honesty, with feelings of powerlessness or inadequacy, with anger, frustration, depression – this is a kind of bonding that will help you break old patterns and find YOUR PLACE in a community.
If you are outwardly successful and looking to become more integrated with other parts of your life – this is a place to come and explore, refine and express yourself, even the parts that may be hiding out in the shadows.
If you have never felt safe or at ease in a group of men – this is a place to figure out why and to change that. Your success depends on your efforts.
Without moving beyond ‘connection by cause’ and into ‘bonded commitment’, efforts to create and sustain community will fail … over and over and over. Movements fail not because of the lack of good ideas or even good organization, but because of the lack of mature bonding – the kind of connection that allows groups to overcome personal and psychological blocks and resolve interpersonal conflicts in a way that is energizing rather than draining to their efforts.