Written by: Sasha and Daniel, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
There is always the eternal fight between 'Dark and Light' and 'Good and Evil'. It can be a fight that many men endure their whole lives. Staying true to their values and virtues and living authentically can be challenging. In the dark times we are experiencing, men can quickly lose their way and succumb to distractions, groupthink and dark urges. It's time for modern men to step back into the light and embrace all it means to be a man. It's time for a new era of the Renaissance man.
There have been dark ages of man throughout history where technology, knowledge, wisdom, the arts and debate were forgotten and replaced by war, chaos, mob mentality, survival in uncertain times, and man succumbed to dark urges. Empires have fallen due to invasions, endemic and epidemic diseases, war, and political, social, financial, and climate crises.
We might be in another dark age of man. In general terms, we see many of the symptoms mentioned above unfolding in these current times.
Men are indulging in porn, drinking, gambling, and drugs, depressed, anxious, overly medicated, weak bodies, engaging in groupthink and having no vision of their future. The ancient wisdom and knowledge we once knew have been misplaced, and men have lost their way.
I have interviewed and coached many men, and they are frustrated and are not living authentically to their vision of themselves. Emotionally in pain, shut down and suppressing anger. They don't know their place in the world and feel directionless. Going to work and going through the motions wondering for what purpose they are on this earth. They are not living to their potential and know they are capable of much more.
These men are living to their virtues with no one to hold them accountable to a standard. If all the men they are around engage in dark numbing behaviour, does that make it acceptable?
"Amidst the errors there shone forth men of genius; no less keen were their eyes, although they were surrounded by darkness and dense gloom" – Petrarch
Fear, danger and the attack on masculinity are rife in the media. It's virtually impossible to stand for something as a man without getting cancelled. Healthy discussion and debate are things of the past. Man has lost his divine connection due to the distractions of the day-to-day grind, leaving him to feel lost and not know his place in this world.
The dark ages preceded the many Renaissance periods. According to Wikipedia, the Renaissance periods were a time of social, political and economic transformations and an intellectual revitalisation in philosophy and science. Then the literary and artistic movement in the following centuries.
It's time for the dark ages of man to fall and the rise of the modern Renaissance man.
According to the urban dictionary, a renaissance man does everything and does it well; he is "enlightened" in all subject matter, including arts, maths, athletics, philosophy, music, history, and any other cultural aspect of society.
We need a new renaissance of man, a time when knowledge, wisdom, freethinking, debate, innovation, appreciation of art and beauty, physical prowess, virtue, honour, and philosophy are commonplace once again.
"Traditionally, Renaissance men were excellent philosophers but also strong, handsome and charismatic." – The helpful professor.
A modern man can become a Renaissance Man by pursuing Arete' or excellence.
Honour: Live to a code; hold yourself and others to this code so you can live authentically free from shame and guilt.
Virtue: Consciously develop character traits like creativity, fairness, bravery, humility, and excellence.
Wisdom: consume a wide range of content, and become versed in philosophy, arts, psychology, engineering, and quantum physics. Be open to debate and others' opinions.
Self-mastery: Take control of dark urges and careless behaviour. Integrate and have a healthy expression of emotions. Develop a mindset of success and build a strong, capable, aesthetic body.
Social intelligence: Like Robert Greene says in Laws of human nature, "Learn to read the hearts and minds of man".
Becoming a Renaissance man is not for a select few; it starts with every man. You might doubt this is for you, but everyone dies with unrealised talents and ambitions. Don't let that be you; there is something inside you, a gift that you were born with that the world needs.
No longer shall you be a slave to distractions; spend your time pursuing Arete' (excellence). It's time we all stood for the betterment of ourselves, our families, our community and the world.
Sasha and Daniel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Sasha and Daniel specialise in relationships, human behaviour and experiential healing. Their collective 14 years as coaches taught them that patterns from previous relationships and upbringing could adversely affect their connection, even knowing they were soul mates. So from day one, they consciously designed their relationship by creating 14 principles to guide their behaviours and focus.
Sasha and Daniel aim to heal the world with their love by showing couples how to turn towards each other again for fulfilment, intimacy and connection.
Sasha and Daniel offer exclusive 1:1 coaching and retreats for couples that are at 80% and want that extra 20%. They teach simple, actionable principles for partners who love each other but have lost their way.
