Blokes rule, or so we think….
Did you know:
- 95% of Australia’s top 200 companies have a male CEO
- only two women make Australia’s top 50 highest paid sportspeople
- men in Australia are, on average, paid 20% more than women
Pretty good stats, if you’re a male. Don’t you think?
Some other stats you may NOT know:
- suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian males aged 15-44
- 5 men a day, in Australia, commit suicide, 37 per week
- 1 in 2 Australian men had a mental health problem at some point in their life
- Aussie men live 4.5 years less than Aussie women
Maybe its not THAT good for men?
5 men every day, in Australia, commit suicide.
Almost 50% of men, in Australia, will have some sort of mental illness.
What’s going on?
What can we do about it?
In the next couple of months we will be having our first child.
A boy.
Another Aussie male.
Another statistic?
There’s many avenues we could go down in this article. We could look at what’s causing the problems, solutions, prevention, cures, fund raising, raising awareness, support groups, research, government funding, government campaigns, government resources, the list is endless. And, there are many people doing amazing work in these areas to make a difference. But, for this article, I want to go beyond the surface.
A great man, once said:
‘No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.’
-Albert Einstein
That quote got me thinking.
It got me thinking about the level of question I want to ask to move beyond the problem, beyond the stats, beyond the same level of consciousness that created it.
What’s the question that rises beyond the Aussie male stats?
The question I asked myself:
What are the keys to living the best life I can live?
To answer the question I feel we have to define health. As a society we are always looking to fight illness and disease, to fight the symptoms, NOT the cause.
Health is so much more than merely the absence of symptoms. As the World Health Organisation clearly points out in there definition of health:
‘physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity’
So, rather than focusing on the stats, let’s explore what it takes for an Aussie bloke to live the best life he can live (and anyone else for that matter).
At the start of this month experts from around the world were in Sydney to talk about preventing suicide. In conjunction with that, the CEO of Lifeline Australia, Peter Shmigel wrote an article that appeared in the Daily Telegraph. In his article he wrote:
‘It seems being disconnected from productive purpose
and being lonely and isolated
are big factors in suicidal behaviour’
His statement gives some clues as to where to look for living our best life.
Here’s my top three key’s to living your best life, backed by research!
1. Purpose
A team of researchers from Flinders University, in Adelaide, found that having a strong sense of purpose is linked to successful ageing.
What’s purpose?
The reason for which something is done or cited or for which something exists.
A person’s resolve or determination.
So, what is your purpose?
What is your big WHY?
What brings you joy and excitement?
Is your purpose to: be fit and healthy, raise a family, attain a certain level in your career, help others, create, teach, or is it something else?
If you’re not sure of the answers to these questions, IT’S OK! Keep asking the question until you get an answer. Be warned it may take time!
2.Connection
According to an article from Stanford, social connection has a greater impact on health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure!
Have I got your attention, yet?
…a greater impact than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure.
Now, I’m NOT saying to go and have a ciggy with your mates. But, it does highlight the importance of social connectedness, does it not?
On top of that, Robin Dunbar from Oxford University reckons blokes should meet up at least twice a week to reap the health benefits.
Blokes!
Sort it out!
Get connected!
3.Exercise
As you would probably know…yep, exercise is good for you!
And, you don’t have to be a gym junkie or a fitness fanatic to cash in on the benefits!
One research study found even people who did the less than the required minimum amount of physical activity had far better health benefits than those who did no exercise.
I’d recommend you stop reading now and go out for a walk! I dare you!
The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.’
-Paulo Coelho
Righto, blokes!
Time to man up!
Get on purpose.
Get connected.
Get moving.
Be more than a statistic.
Be the example.
I’m doing it for my son.
Who are you doing it for?
…. By Sam Parker
Sam is the Founder of Bro’s Burgers and Brews. An organisation that is connecting like-minded men together. To move away from the stats of the average male and move towards blokes being the best version of themselves.
Feeling stuck? Feeling overwhelmed? Feel like you should be happy, but you’re not? Come and join us for:
‘An Awakening: Permission to be a Man’
with James Greenshields (see flyer)
Want to hang out with some like minded blokes, have a burger and a chat?
Come and join me, and a few other blokes at the next Bro’s Burger Brews catch up
When: 1st Friday of every month, 730pm
Where: The Burger Bar- Noosa & Mooloolaba
Want to know more: https://www.facebook.com/brosburgersbrews/
Where I got the info:
- Stats from Beyond Blue
- WHO- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health
- http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/peter-shmigel-we-can-all-play-a-part-in-tackling-the-nations-suicide-crisis/news-story/9b9fb4d05fa71b3c8860965285dcc554
- Purpose: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/media-spotlight/201507/how-sense-purpose-can-help-you-live-longer
- Purpose Definition https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/purpose
- Connection, Stanford: http://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/connectedness-health-the-science-of-social-connection-infographic/
- Connection Oxford: http://news.nationalpost.com/health/men-need-to-meet-up-with-friends-for-a-brew-or-a-brawl-to-stay-healthy-u-k-study?__lsa=e4f9-e267
- Exercise: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/06/physical-activity-longevity_n_7010916.html
