“The world needs better men.”
Those were the exact words that started The Better Man Project about 6 years ago.
When I began, I was really only thinking about myself becoming a better man and the lessons I was learning along the way. It wasn’t out of selfishness, but rather an attempt to really become a better person because I didn’t like the way I was going. I didn’t like what I was doing. I didn’t like who I was becoming. But most of all, I knew that I was capable of much more than what I was up to at that time.
So a lost kid dove into his fears and started to learn about himself for the first time.
I’m writing this post today because somewhere along the line I lost that mission. Well, maybe not lost, but I disconnected from this process. Sometimes days to weeks would go by throughout the project (after that initial 30 days straight). Once in a while I would get “hot” with hundreds of posts in a row and then slow down. I never really understood why, but there were times where I just really didn’t want to write at all.
I didn’t feel compelled to put the pen to the paper or my fingers to the keys. If I’m being honest with myself, it was more out of laziness than it was out of not having anything to say.
I always have something to say. There’s always something being learned. I’m always experiencing things throughout the day that I really should be writing but I just didn’t.
And that’s on me. I didn’t do what I knew I should be doing. Maybe it was out of personal stubbornness? God only knows. But I know what I have to do now in order to carry on feeling comfortable with my decisions and this project.
A long time ago, I committed to writing until the day I die. I think that fundamental commitment will never change. But as time goes on I and I start seeing what the potential of all of this is, I really understand that I have to be siting down here every single day and speaking what’s in my heart.
Today, what was in my heart was a honest moment of renewed commitment.
I’ve had my ups and downs throughout the years and always been willing to take the next step with the things I am doing as well as dive farther and farther into myself. But deep down I always knew I was capable of more. Maybe it’s like an athlete after winning a championship who wants to get better for the next year and take on another championship? I clearly feel that competitive drive within my bones. Funny thing is I no longer compete against other people but rather against myself and what I’m capable of.
The world needs better men.
Many are confused by the name The Better Man Project and wonder why I have about 60% female fans. When I speak about all of these things going on in my life, I don’t really think this is about Man but rather mankind. Male. Female. Doesn’t matter who you are I think you could get something from what I’m saying here.
What started out as something about myself as a man really turned into just about people in general. It’s about the emotions we all feel and we are all connected to rather than the situations that keep up separated. We can all connect around having the same feelings. We are all distanced when we try to look for similarities in things that have happened to us because we are all so different.
We need more people in this world who are willing to speak their heart, be vulnerable, be willing to take risks and step into the challenges that face human beings.
There will always be negativity. That’s never going away. But I think we could use a hell of a lot more people who aren’t willing to negotiate with negativity and stay true to a positive north.
We need more people who are willing to take a stand for what they believe in and get behind it 100%.
This is my effort.
Today is my recommitment to that idea. I’ve been doing it in many different ways throughout the years but really am getting back to the roots of all of this. This is what I believe in and this is who I am down at my core.
Time to grow again.
Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project