“Here’s the dilemma: a culture that values progress over wisdom will never be satisfied.“
Morgan Snyder, from “Becoming a King”
For many years, the trap has been set out for young men that achievement through blind ambition is a better path than seeking wisdom first. The common path of ambition has led young men to believe that they can never do enough, that they will never have enough, and ultimately that they will never be enough. It’s a narrow and scarce mindset that will drain your soul of anything good. The ancient path of wisdom is knowing when enough truly is enough. It’s an open and abundant mindset that will fill your soul with all things good. It takes great courage and humility to find this path of truth.
What do I really want?
This is the simple question I asked myself, but this time, from a different perspective. Instead of asking myself from the mental frame of seeking growth, improvement, and progress, I asked myself from the mental frame of seeking wholeheartedness, peace, and wisdom. I encourage you to slow down and do the same.
What you find out pretty quickly as a man is that you don’t actually want all that much, we are simple creatures by design and we know it. When you answer the question, “What do I really want?” from a place of humility, most of us will recognize that we simply want a life where we are loved and appreciated by those around us, while gaining a few interesting skills along the way. Where we go blind is thinking we will achieve these things by bringing material success and status to the table.
You will not be loved and appreciated for your possessions nor accomplishments. Yes, people will recognize when you contribute them, but it’s not these worldly things themselves that people deeply appreciate about you, it’s the virtues that get you there. It’s your acts of thoughtfulness, generosity, and kindness. It’s your level of taking care and responsibility for the people in your midst. You will be truly loved and appreciated for showing your wholehearted presence around the people closest to you; namely your family, friends, and neighbors.
How do I become wholehearted?
We are best by the people around us. The goal is to make more time to spend with the people we love and have the energy to be fully engaged around them. Not in some imaginary future once you’ve “made it”, but now and today before you’re burnt out or dead.
Go slower, do less, love more. Don’t feel like you need be further ahead of where you are, don’t look for shortcuts, and give yourself permission to be young. Be willing to take the lowest seat until God makes it impossible to do so through a pace of growth that is actually sustainable.
A brave warrior is the beginning of a wise king, for the tests of battles will give him all the discernment he needs if he prevails to the end. You can become a king, but you must be brave enough to start from a place of humility and take the slow and steady path to your kingship.
By Wyatt Simkins