Six Pillars of Strength

Summary

• The Six Pillars: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, Relational and Creative, are a simple way to inventory your growth each day across the major categories of life
• Do one thing each day in each of these categories to insure consistent growth and strengthening 

With so much information available and endless options as how to experience life, it can be challenging to discern what is best for you without feeling overwhelmed.  To simplify this, I begin each day with the objective of strengthening six defined categories, a concept I like to call, “The Six Pillars of Strength.”

Typically feeling most fulfilled is not doing what we think we should do, but doing what we want to do, and when we combine this desire with doing that which is value-based and meaningful we set ourselves up for optimal discipline and regular practice of being our very best.  Strength comes from pushing ourselves beyond our normal standards into a place of discomfort that causes growth.  That is, doing something beyond general maintenance that creates push and discomfort.  For instance, adding twenty push ups to your morning or evening routine, reading rather than looking at your phone, praying or meditating or practicing a new skill or intention.

By setting your intention each day, or better yet, the night before, to strengthen yourself through growth in each of these categories, you create clear practice for focus on and dedication to small things that lead to significant impact and reward. 

Filling your days with strength building in specific areas of life allows you develop proclivity toward intentional use of time and energy resulting in less attention wasted on screens, social media and video games.  

The Six Pillars do not require equal time and attention and can vary from day to day.  For instance, you can spend forty-five minutes working out to strengthen yourself physically, but only ten minutes reading to build mental strength.  Some examples of ways to build strength in each of the Six Pillars are: 

Physical: Fitness, movement, exercise, diet and personal care. Consider lifting weights, walking, taking the stairs, parking further from your destination, getting a haircut, eating nutritionally dense foods, cleaning and trimming your nails or scheduling a dental cleaning.  

Mental: Learning, educating, acquiring or practicing a new skill. Consider reading, learning, completing a crossword puzzle, problem solving, thinking critically, writing, taking a class, etc. 

Relational: Doing anything to strengthen and improve a relationship through meaningful connection.  Consider making a phone call; sharing perspective, deeper thoughts and feelings; writing a letter; sending an email praising or recognizing a coworker, employee or your boss; engaging with your partner or children in a meaningful way, etc. 

Emotional: Emotional strengthening can be one of the most challenging for men and can include, addressing emotions as they surface, remaining calm and logical during challenging circumstances, reflecting on emotionally challenging situations, connecting with a friend or partner on a deeper level, meeting an issue head on, engaging in and enduring a challenging conversation where you may want to walk away, attending therapy, etc. 

Spiritual: Connecting with the soulful elements of yourself.  Consider praying, engaging in a conversation with God, meditating, reading scripture or spiritually based literature, listening to a sermon, etc. 

Creative: For most men, being artfully creative is a place where few will devote their time or focus.  But creating is not just about producing art or poetry.  You can create in your professional as well as your personal life and in all of your relationships.  Consider formulating ideas, solving problems, designing, writing, sketching, creating a pitch deck or slide show, taking photos, etc. 

To best keep yourself accountable and consistent, it is ideal to keep a notebook beside your bed.  Before you fall asleep take just a few minutes to jot down what you did that day to achieve growth and strengthening in each of the six categories. Remember to pause and acknowledge where you applied focus to improve strength to encourage yourself to remain consistent in this practice.  Then set your intention for the next day by scheduling time dedicated to action in each of the categories.  

Before long, you will notice improved discipline and focus and visible results in each of these areas of your life.  You will devote attention to that which you value and be able to lead others who look to you for guidance and leadership and you will thank yourself for committing to prioritizing strength and growth.