5 Unfiltered Truths for Men
If you weren't logged into Zoom this past Saturday at 9:00 a.m. central time, you missed more than just a virtual meeting, you missed a wake-up call.
We kicked off the weekend with Life Coach James Bonds, who cut through the morning grogginess with a message focused on self-awareness, spiritual growth, and the hard work of accountability. Even through a screen, the energy was palpable. It wasn’t about fluff; it was about the foundational principles required to lead yourself and your family effectively.
While the full recording is being processed, we’ve distilled the session down to the five most critical takeaways every man needs to hear right now.
1. The Law of Awareness: You Must Know Yourself to Grow Yourself
Growth is never accidental. As Coach Bonds stated, "To grow yourself, you must know yourself."
Far too many men are simply going through the motions, drifting through their careers and relationships. The challenge is to stop drifting and start taking an honest inventory. You need to clearly identify three things:
Your Strengths
Your Weaknesses
Your Interests
You cannot chart a path to where you want to go in 2026 if you are lying to yourself about where you are starting today.
2. Guard Your Heart: Be Transparent, Not Vulnerable
This was perhaps the most provocative and necessary distinction of the morning. In modern culture, we hear a lot about "vulnerability." However, Coach Bonds challenged the audience to look at this through a biblical lens.
We are instructed to "guard your heart." Being vulnerable implies being weak, exposed, or easily wounded—leaving your spirit defenseless. Instead, men should strive for transparency.
Transparency means being clear, open, and honest about your struggles and your truth, but doing so from a position of strength and spiritual protection.
3. Seek Permanent Joy Over Temporary Happiness
We have been trained to chase happiness, but we often forget that happiness is dependent on "happenings." If your day goes well, you are happy. If your tire goes flat, you are unhappy. It is a roller coaster.
Joy is different. Joy is permanent. Coach Bond reminded us that joy is an internal state that has already been "paid for." It remains stable even when life is hard. Stop chasing the fleeting high of happiness and learn to abide in the constant stability of joy.
4. Check Your Circle and Get a Coach
There is no such thing as a "self-made man." We are shaped by those around us. You need to relentlessly "check your circle." Ask yourself: Are the people around me adding value, or are they draining my energy and projecting their own insecurities onto me?
Beyond just friends, you need a guide. Every man needs a mentor or a coach. You need to find someone who is doing what you want to do better than you are doing it right now. You need that guidance, and more importantly, you need that accountability.
5. Time is Your True Currency—Spend It on Service
We worry about money, but money can be replaced. Time cannot.
Coach Bonds offered a powerful antidote for those days when the weight of the world feels too heavy. If you are having a bad week, don't retreat inward. Instead, use your time to serve. Go read to children in the hospital. Visit a nursing home.
Shifting your focus from your own problems to serving others is the quickest way to regain perspective and gratitude. Effort is a form of worship; use your time wisely.
What’s Next?
The Full Replay is Coming Soon
Did these points hit home? You’ll want to hear the full context. We will be releasing the full video of the session soon. Make sure you are following us on social media and have joined our email list so you don't miss the link when it drops.
Join Us on December 6th: Virtual Goal Setting Workshop
If Point #1 regarding "The Law of Awareness" struck a chord with you, you need to be at our next event. We are hosting a Virtual Goal Setting Workshop on December 6th. This is your opportunity to take that inventory of your strengths and interests and turn them into actionable plans for the new year.