Comments on: Manvotional: Do You Have Hardihood?

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 17:33:42 +0000

Mike mentioned President George W. Bush as the non-exemplar of hardihood, and while this example is loaded with political fraught, it is also a common experience for all of us – even though perhaps none of us have ever met the man. So allow me to follow up with this example.

I think President Bush represents the exemplar AND non-exemplar of hardihood. In Bush we see the first and only American president since Richard Nixon who was willing to stand up to terrorists in the Mideast. None of his predecessors would! Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton – all shrank from the task, lacking intestinal fortitude.

Not only did Bush establish a war against the terrorists in the Mideast, but he did so in the face of fantastic political opposition at home and abroad. Regardless of whether you like him or not – this man stuck to his convictions! And I admired that about him.

Indeed, it was only at the end of his eight-year presidency that he waffled in hardihood. When it came time to stabilize the economy, Bush’s apologists argue that he had to “destroy capitalism in order to save it.” Bush signed the TARP along with the Republican and Democrat Congress, showing that in the end Bush et al. chose to “rescue” the wealthy people on the face of the planet, in the history of the world…over the American people.

In President Bush we see both the exemplar and the non-exemplar in hardihood. But let us appropriately define each example. Hardihood is standing up for what you believe is just and moral. Hardihood is not demonstrated when folding to the selfish demands of your wealthy friends at the expense of the common man.

Christopher

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 22:30:28 +0000

I applaud bringing hardihood to today’s male. There has been so much said about the emasculation of our society. Men are those males of strong character that can overcome adversity to pursue a right goal. Men don’t make excuses, they don’t back down from challenges to their plans, dreams, and ambitions. Stu, I know it’s been awhile since your post, but you develop hardihood by making the decision everyday to do right and “extend your tent pegs”. Try something new. Press your point in a meeting when you feel you are being ignored. Ask out the girl you have been admiring from afar. Do those extra five pushups. You build hardihood by challenging yourself to do more than you have before.

By: stu

stu — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:34:23 +0000

I blame it all on my overbearing mother, and my weak passive father. now that it is out of the way, how do I get on with becoming hardy? what kind of thoughts do I think, what should I say when I talk to myself, how should I imagine myself in my mind?

By: James

James — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:27:37 +0000

This is just the kind of test I have been looking for. It is always necessary for me to reflect upon my values and personal characteristics.

By: russel

russel — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:18:27 +0000

To Jamie Kennedy , If you are the same J.K. involved with J. L.-H. , you sir must have hardihood enough to spare . Although all the posts give great validity to the term , your hardihood in that endeavor is inspiring . not to mention your other achievments . Let’s all strive for a certain amount of hardihood sans boastful pride . If others recognize worthy deeds , they will talk about it for us .

By: Alejandro

Alejandro — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:22:38 +0000

Hardihood is just plain having the balls to stand up for yourself, especially when you know you’re right; political correctness be damned! I’ve learned that the hard way (no pun intended, literally!) after spending my entire life – before now – trying to please everyone at the same time and make certain others are happy with me, instead of being happy with myself. I have very definite opinions on everything in this world and haved developed the courage from a lifetime of ridicule and shyness just to stand by convictions. American men have let themselves get pretty wimpy within the past 20 – 30 years; hoping to be more passive like females, instead of aggressive and determined as nature intended. God forbid if a man should talk back to a woman these days! It’s social suicide! But, I don’t care! Men and women are different; hence the AOM blog! Hardiness doesn’t mean being stubborn or insensitive. It just means being proud and certain in who you are and what you want out of life. You give and you take – all within reason and moderation. We all make mistakes, but it’s how you learn from those mistakes and what you do with those lessons afterwards that makes the man.

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:15:59 +0000

LOVE the blog! I found AOM just as I was rebuilding my life from the ashes of a divorce, and it’s been a regular inspiration for me. (I’m also raising two boys.) Thanks for all the work you put into it.

Here’s another comment on the “hardihood unassociated with judgment is foolhardiness” statement.

There was a good story on NPR the other day taking a look at General Motors’ disastrously blind adherence to it’s short-term goal of gaining a 29% share of the world automobile market a few years back. They reached something like a 28.3% share, but they had to lower prices and reduce costs (quality) to a point where they were losing money on every sale and damaging the perception of their product by consumers. They also chased after the hot item of the moment (SUV’s) while ignoring the obvious big seller of tomorrow (hybrid-electric) … just to reach that goal.

GM was certainly hardy in pursuit of their goal, but they used very poor judgment. We’ve all seen how that turned out. Great post!

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:39:06 +0000

Great series…thanks. I’m looking forward to your future columns on how to develop this quality. I agree with some of the other posters, however, that it may not be a quality in and of itself.

By: Dennard

Dennard — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:31:15 +0000

Nice article. I think men especially would do well to use the measuring stick of hardihood and the related questions in this article when looking for the correct career or for any decision that needs to be made.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:11:41 +0000

So true is this, that every person, males and females alike, want to have “stout and persistent courage”. Since becoming a father, I am continually taking stock of the events and achievements in my life and identifying what I like and dislike about myself in order to pave the road to the life I want to live.

Hardihood is certainly one factor is this path.