Related Articles from the News
Are You Unhappy? This Might Be the Problem
How is it that despite looking like we have the things we need, we are unhappy, frustrated, even angry? As the world looks to behavioural change programs to deal with tragedies like domestic violence, Guy argues that perhaps, for men who are at risk of ‘snapping’, an answer is more deeply hidden but oh so easy to get. Meet Jim ...
You Have to Fight to Stay in Love
In the midst of the lockdown, we cannot go to the gym, so my wife and I walk every morning to keep fit. We both enjoy each other’s presence, so we hold hands when we walk. Fight to Stay in Love One morning recently a woman who walked past us regularly said, “You are my role models for love.” I ...
Relationship Breakdown: The Cycle Leading to Relationship Failure
Relationships erode constantly without your intentional attention. But it can be difficult to see the warning signs, as erosion can be well-hidden. In episode #30 of Real Talk 4 Real Men, Chris and Guy take you through the 7 stages of the Relationship Crash Cycle to help you identify exactly where your relationship is being eroded. Armed with this, you ...
The 5 Types of Love You Need for a Mighty Marriage
What does it really mean when you “love” your spouse? In this episode, Guy and Chris unpack the 5 love types that you need to have working together to make your marriage mighty. “You don’t love me anymore!” says Lucy. “I do love you” says Liam. “You don’t!” Lucy fires back… You understand the scenario. Perhaps you have experienced it. ...
Is Work-Life Balance (still) Possible?
Oprah Winfrey said that you can’t have everything and do everything at the same time. Was she right? Today we unpack work-life balance and ask if it is still possible. And if it is, then how? When the term work-life balance is raised, it usually stirs some sort of emotion in you. There are a few who don’t desire ‘work-life ...
Walking the Line Between Care and Responsibility
Can you be overly protective of your wife and kids? How do you walk the balance between care and responsibility? That is the topic of Real Talk 4 Real Men episode #27. Are you confident that you are preparing your young adults well for handling the responsibilities that come with adulthood? Have you prepared your wife to be able to ...
Tag Team Vs. Good Cop, Bad Cop Parenting
Avoid "good cop, bad cop" parenting as much as possible. In fact, ditch it altogether. A system that elevates mums over dads, or dads over mums, doesn’t work. Good cop, bad cop parenting’s long-term costs negate any short-term benefits. The system is a recipe for favouritism, resentment and parental neglect. Potentially even divorce. https://youtu.be/gYYYOhq08Vg Good cop, bad cop is a ...
Manliness – What Women Want in a Man
“As iron sharpens iron so does the face of a man’s friend,” is a saying from the book of Proverbs. It really sums up the mysterious masculine healing power that is released when men gather together for a noble purpose. I have experienced this mysterious force in men’s gatherings at so many different levels and in so many different ways, ...
How to Cope with Change – Thriving Through Change Part 4
In part 4 of Thriving Through Change, Guy and Chris continue the discussion on how to cope with change. In this episode, Guy explains the 4-part Hudson change model for understanding where you are at in the change cycle. Ever been chasing a dream, a big goal, a vision, but then become disillusioned with the whole thing? Things you assumed ...
Fight Like a Pro
My good friend Robert Day sent me a link. He said, “Check out Gavin Topps and his ‘Fight Like a Pro’ Program”. Rob is a Dads4Kids board member. He has worked with men all his life. He knows men. So, I just had to check it out for myself. Below is the challenging call to Manhood from the Gavin Topps ...
Is Marriage Worth It?
We all get a bit of shock pretty early on in married life. For some, it is day 1: “This isn’t what I expected!” At some point, you will probably find yourself asking yourself the question: Is marriage worth it? Are you married? How has it been going for you lately? You wouldn’t be the first person to stop and ...
Is Recovering from an Affair Possible?
What is worse than death of a partner in a relationship? For those who have been through it, finding your partner has cheated on you brings pain that can seem to be impossible to deal with. How will your relationship survive? How will you survive? What about the kids? In this blogpost and podcast, Phil will give you hope and ...
Defeating a Porn Addiction
Pornography is holding more men and women in bondage than ever before. Despite the gloom, there are victories. Luke’s story is one. Will you be the next to be free from porn addiction? There was a time when pornography seemed like it was a part of growing up and gaining liberty from stereotypical norms, or rules our parents and religion ...
7 Easy Ways To Make Your Wife (and your life) Fly!
Arguably, the most intelligent thing any real man should be doing is caring for his wife. In this short post, Guy outlines 7 easy things you can do today to love your wife and improve your life. I’ve heard it said that a man’s wife is his glory. Another version often stated is “happy wife, happy life”. Proverbs 12:4a outlines ...
Seven Dangers of the Digital World & Seven Ways Dads Can Overcome Them
Yesterday I heard a disturbing story. My friend rang me to share how his son had recently gone through a very sad divorce. He shared with his Dad how the unreality of the digital world, that many young people live in today, was a major contributor to his divorce and his general lack of wellbeing. My friend’s son pointed out ...
Man Scripts: How to Never Get in Trouble with Her Again
Elbert Hubbard said, “Do not take life too seriously, you will never get out of it alive.” Victor Borge said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” Comedian and counsellor JP Sears put the above advice into practice in his brilliant YouTube video called “Man Scripts — How to Never Get in Trouble with Her Again”. These scripts will ...
Keep the Spark Alive — Valentine’s Day Can Be All Year Round
Valentine’s Day is next Sunday, 14 February. It is a date worthy of celebration. It just so happens that it is one of our bi-weekly date nights, so it won’t be hard to celebrate. Getting a restaurant with a free table will be the hard part. You have heard me say it before, and if you hang around with us ...
Encouragement — The Gift Money Can’t Buy
Ian ‘Watto’ Watson said, “I have never seen a bloke go backwards with encouragement.” Ian Watson spoke at the very first Men’s Leadership Summit at Paluma Range, north of Townsville, in 2013. Sadly, Ian passed away in 2019. The good news is that he left a massive legacy of encouragement for men the world over. Rhonda McKenzie, Ian Watson’s ...
Marriage Week & the Secrets to a Good Marriage
“Love is a many-splendored thing” is the title of a popular song from the fifties. Many people would argue the sanity of that song and concur instead with Shakespeare who said, “Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage”! Nobody would disagree with you if you said that our world is in the middle of a marriage crisis. In Australia, ...
Fighting for Your Wife
John Eldredge said in his bestselling book, Wild at Heart, “A hesitant man is the last thing in the world a woman needs. She needs a lover and a warrior.” I am sure that Chantelle, Mark Rapley’s wife, would agree with John’s prescient quote. This article in the Port Macquarie News tells the story well: Husband's actions saved her life: ...
The Grief of Fatherhood
When my beautiful and only daughter got married, I was reminded of the words of Enid Bagnold, “A father is always making his baby into a little woman, and when she is a woman he turns her back again.” At the time of my daughter’s marriage, I was sharing with a friend, another father who has two married daughters, my ...
Next Level
I have organised many events for dads over the years, but last Tuesday’s ‘Dads4Kids Family Webinar’ lifted the bar to the next level. I felt like I got hit by a freight train! I am still trying to process the challenge. Please watch the webinar below to understand what I mean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UqqOLxj0lE All contributors to the Dads4Kids Family Webinar ...
The Science of Love
Two weeks ago we celebrated Valentine's Day, and by way of celebration I looked up an older article from Time Magazine called 'The Science of Romance'. I looked up Susan Sprecker's 'Passionate Love Scale' featured in Time Magazine and ran the test on myself. After 44 years of marriage, I rated as 'passionate, but less intense'. My wife tells me ...
Valentine’s Day
A man once said to me, "I told my wife I loved her once, why do I have to tell her again?" Maybe that foolhardy statement is one of the reasons many men get irked by Valentine's Day. I was one of them. Men are headliners, while women are fine print people. Men say, "Just give me the facts." Once ...
Everyone Needs a Mentor
Some time ago, a young man approached me to see if I would mentor him and his wife on how to raise a great family. I have known this man and his wife for about ten years. He is a very successful businessman who is also active in his local church. In my estimation, he is a great father and ...
