Real Man

Disclaimer: none of this is new. I'm not trying to reinvent the fire, either. This is mostly trying to put the concepts by which I live my life in written form, concisely and precisely.

This is how I see what a 'real man' is.

One of the best examples of a true alpha male in modern cinema is Aragorn from "Lord Of the Rings". Calm and composed, dangerous but not aggressive, confident but with the competence and skill to back it up, intelligent, cultured, protective but not obsessive, jealous, or intrusive, tactful and respectful... The list of traits goes on.

* Constantly better myself. Learn new things, improve my skills. Be informed on a variety of topics, and never let myself be completely useless in a conversation or in a situation.

* Never shy away from responsibility. Hesitating what to pick, letting someone else deal with it, saying "I can't do it" are toxic to alpha masculinity.

* Never look for excuses or for someone else to blame. "It wasn't my fault" is the behavior of a follower, not of a leader.

* Be the best lover I can be.

* Don't bully or look for fights. In a pack of wolves, the alpha male sits around chilling, and the challengers approach him and try to start a fight. If I'm aggressive, looking for fights, bullying people, bragging about myself, I'm not giving off the alpha male vibe. I'm giving off the vibe of the beta challenger overcompensating or trying to prove himself.

* Confidence should come from a place of skill and competence. Being overly confident without having the knowledge or skill to back it up is a trait from the previous point: an overcompensating beta male.

* Behaviors that destroy my image as an alpha male:
     - jealous
     - angry
     - insecure
     - possessive
     - selfish
     - whiny
     - greedy
     - envious
     - lazy
     - incompetent

* Dress for function, not for show. Vanity, even when it results in bodybuilding or scary tattoos, is psychologically a feminine trait. Outside of home, I strive to wear a uniform. (e.g. the suit, or at the very least pants, shoes, and a button shirt is the universal uniform for most workplaces that don't have their own dedicated uniforms). I leave the saggy pants, excessive accessorising, pumping biceps in front of a mirror, and fashionable hair styles to the street thugs, the overpaid actors, and the overcompensating douchebags.

* And lastly, keep myself in a good shape. There is a difference between good looks and functional athleticism. Don't pump muscles for a beach body; rather, exercise and train for combat and survival. In the modern world, it might never be necessary... but just in case it is, I should be ready.