Building a Band of Brothers: Choosing and Deepening Friendships [BOOK EXCERPT]

"By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped." (Ecc. 4:12)

No man is an island, but most men still want to determine who comes on their particular plot of ground. It is important for you as a man to develop an accountability team, not a collection of yes-men or mindless buddies who will applaud or acquiesce to your compulsive behavior but mature men who will tell you to knock it off when necessary. 

In creating or strengthening your band of brothers, consider this:

• When deciding who might be open to a deeper friendship, don't forget to factor in what you bring to the table. Friendships are mutual with reciprocity.

• Choose someone you admire, who displays masculine attributes you value.Keep trying. You're not going to bat a thousand in your search. Some people simply won't be interested and you'll need to move on.

• Allow the relationship to deepen naturally. Don't try to force it.

• Be patient but not too patient. If it's taking weeks between conversations or activities, you may want to move on to someone else.

• If you're dealing with a specific issue, like pornography or sexual addiction or overeating or substance abuse or gambling, there are support groups in your community you can take advantage of, as a way to provide broader support sa you're working on finding and cultivating closer friendships.

Bringing others into your life and decisions doesn't mean giving away your personal power. Choose wisley and you'll actually increase it.

The above is excerpted from Battles Men Face: Strategies To Win the War Within by Dr. Gregory Jantz.