In Praise of Patriarchs
Welcome to Your Love Breakthrough! Get Real. Love.
In this edition: In Praise of Patriarchs
Perspective – Masculinity Gets a Bad Rap
Practical Tactics – Celebrate The Masculine
It's Sad to Bad-Rap Your Dad
Perspective– Masculinity Gets a Bad Rap
As Father's Day approaches, we think about the concept of Fatherhood. Memories of our fathers, touching or maybe painful, rise to the front of our thoughts and hearts.
If you're not hiding under a rock, you're aware that the word "patriarchy" has had a negative implication these days. Likely, this stems from a sense permeating our society that male dominance has oppressed the marginalized and well... the rest of us on a historical, ongoing basis.
This may not be 100% false, but it grieves me that we have collectively allowed the malevolent examples to overshadow the absolutely awesome, heroic, brave, caring, and supportive majority of patriarchal examples out there.
Some Positive Classical Masculine Traits:
Protecting
Providing
Courageous and Risk-taking
Helpful and Service-Oriented
Assertive
Ambitious and Goal-Driven
Single-focused
Case in point: For a long time, I resented "men" and males in general. It was what the culture around taught me, which might have been partially just the atmosphere in the region of my upbringing. But I drank the tainted water.
So in 2010, I deep-dived into workshops and materials on masculine and feminine anthropology, communication, and brain and hormonal functions in relation to behavior and identity. I learned to appreciate men for who and how they are, collectively and as individuals. It also set me free as well from some weird subconscious notion that they were superior beings to females.
The picture of equality became clear and revolutionized the way I began to relate with the men in my life and I believe, benefited my marriage long before I even met my husband.
Practical Tactics– Celebrate The Masculine
Whether your biological father is someone you can think of fondly or not, you can soul-search for a father figure from some point in your life who shaped you, advocated for you, believed in you, and offered you guidance.
How did this special person "parent" you and change your life for the better?
If you are on the search for a soulmate...
What masculine qualities would you like in a partner (even women can have masculine qualities that go well with your own traits).
If you are partnered...
What are some of the classically masculine attributes you appreciate in your counterpart and what does this bring to your life that you wouldn't otherwise have?
What masculine qualities do you possess that you are happy about?
Taking time to mull these things over can create a positive shift in how you relate to the masculine all around.
Happy Fathers Day to all the patriarchs! A special shout-out to my very own Lil' Ol' Daddy, who is collaborating with me on a musical!
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