My Archetype

What is my archetype? What describes how I want to pattern and live my life? This question was recently posed to me during an online conversation of men who are committed to a brotherhood of support as we seek to optimize our lives. It’s not a question that I’ve previously pondered and to be honest, not an easy question to answer,

Is the archetype a symbol or term used to define a group of men? Is it a person – real or fictional – that I seek to model my life after, a mentor to my evolution? Although there are many men that I admire, the fact remains that they are products of their public brands and who they really are lacks certainty. Of course, fictional characters are just that, fictional. They are not real and therefore not an appropriate archetype, at least for my purpose. I ran through the options from the human to the conceptual, but nothing rang the bell.

What gives my life meaning is to pursue continued intellectual and psychological growth with the goal of optimizing my potential as a human. The end target is not clear, but the path followed is defined by specific attributes and behaviors. It’s these attributes and behaviors that when combined constitute my personal archetype. So, what are they? An older man of class and intellect, well read and impeccably dressed. A man who is slow to offer his thoughts but quick to lend a receptive ear to learn what others think, believe, and feel. A man of considerable empathy but unwilling to agree just to belong and be accepted. A man with the courage to put himself out there, to risk failure in the journey to achieve excellence and mastery. A man not afraid of his inevitable mortality but committed to spending every waking day in the pursuit of knowledge and skills. A man that his family admires and respects, and who will leave a legacy upon which his kids will grow and prosper. A man that will be accepted with open arms when he passes to the next dimension.

My inclination is to identify a man – past or contemporary – that embodies these qualities. A renaissance man that I can learn from and emulate. But this may be the easy way out. The more difficult path is to follow my own path marked by the qualities I’ve defined. When I learn of others who are similar in qualities, I will learn from their experiences and counsel. However, if I am alone on this path, I embrace it in both humility and gratitude.