"One skill a man must develop is the ability to maintain a frame of self-control in face of emotional, distraught, or angry people.

Be a wall they can run into without knocking you over.

If anyone ca wasn make you mirror their emotional state, you’re not much use as a leader.

This is a skill that is essential to just about every normal vocation a man might have:

As a husband, he can't be ruled by his wife's emotions. 
He needs to be able to live with her with understanding, gentleness, tenderness, and strength. She needs him to be a rock, not jello.

As a father, he can't be ruled by his children's emotions.
They need him to be the emotional center of the home. He is the gravity that everyone should orbit around—a strong, jovial, kind presence, firm in discipline, quick to help, proactive in leading.

In his vocation, he must maintain emotional frame.

Whether a solo tradesman, entrepreneur, manager, director, president, CEO, or entry-level guy at the bottom rung, great success will require emotional stability. Nobody wants to work with or for a guy who is easily provoked.

Pastors certainly can't be ruled by congregants' emotions.

You can't effectively shepherd a flock if you're led by the bellwether of their momentary feelings. You have to say, "There's green pasture. Let's go there together." An easily provoked or manipulated pastor will fail."

-Brian Sauve 

#christian #masculinity #workingclass