The Two P's Every Gentleman Should Know

Gentlemen, we are flawed by design. We were given an X and a Y chromosome, a Feminine and Masculine genetic structure and energy. We are complex, we are logical we are also naturally idiots because we are programmed to overcompensate our masculinity because being feminine is “weak”. I believe one of the key traits that separate a man from a gentleman is the ability to be attuned to all of his strengths and use his weaknesses to his advantage. We are taught that the world is ours for the taking and to take it by going after it with everything we’ve got. What men are rarely taught is what we have to do to keep it. This is a trait we have to look to our X chromosome for as it requires something women have been taught from the moment they hit puberty, patience and prudence.

Pa·tience \ˈpā-shən(t)s\ noun- the practice of not being hasty or impetuous

Basically don’t react quickly. Men like me are always ready to fix, do and strike while the fabricated “iron” is metaphorically “hot”. By all means exploit all opportunities, but sometimes it’s better to wait and be prepared. As the old saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait.” For me, this has been something very difficult to deal with. When I want something, I want it the way I want it now! I recently have been confronted with situations in my love life, my work life, and my personal life where patience was the difference between my successes and failures. Patience allows us to assess a situation and react properly. With patience we are forced to think about our opponent’s actions and effectively protect what we so desperately fought to obtain. However, all patience and no action is just a warrant for vulnerability.

Pru·dence \ˈprü-d^ən(t)s\ noun- skill and good judgment in the use of one’s resources

So know what you have, but don’t use too much of it or too often. The dominating characteristics of our masculine nature encourages us to show how much we are better than the next man or to prove how right and in control we are to our women. Now this is natural, and not necessarily a bad thing but we sometimes become overzealous to mask our insecurities. It’s never good to overkill or smother a problem even if it is the right time to react. Using just enough resource to achieve our goals is an act of the mature, the wise, and the just. It is the difference between teaching a lesson and shoving it down someone’s throat. It is the difference between eradicating an enemy or turning him into your ally. Practicing prudence is what turns works of art into masterpieces.

Neither of these things are easy or natural to men like me, but if being a gentleman was natural and easy we wouldn’t be all that valuable, different or sought after, now would we?