Pain, Purpose, Sacrifice, and Love
What is your purpose?
Last night, in my view, was one of the best meetings in the twenty-one seasons leading my men’s mastermind group.
The reliable structure was the same. The meeting began with each man checking in on how they are feeling in this moment right now.
I then moved forward to holding each member accountable for the actions he intended to accomplish this week.
We then moved to the open forum where each man is free to bring forward anything they are inquiring into.
Any challenges, difficulties, or points of confusion from the past week they would like reflection on from the rest of the group.
After a period of silence, the conversation quickly began to deepen in profound power and life-changing wisdom.
A courageous private and confidential conversation emerged about God, surrender, and trust, personal loss and pain, negative self-talk, the larger meaning in our lives, and what truly brings well-being and fulfillment.
Here is where the dialogue eventually landed:
Pain without purpose is suffering.
Pain with purpose is sacrifice.
Sacrifice is love.
Learning to love is the meaning of life.
Each man then shared his intentions and goals for the upcoming week, and we closed out the meeting in gratitude.
It’s unusual for a group of men in our society to have an intentional conversation about how to love.
And yet being consistently committed to learning how to love is the most mature masculine act there is. It requires bravery, strength, integrity, and sacrifice.
It’s only when a man’s highest intention is being of service to others that he is grounded in his most fulfilling purpose.
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The 22nd season of my men’s mastermind group begins Thursday May 21 at 6pm EST.
Contact me if you’re interested in learning more.