Anyway, AoM is currently going through a series titled "30 Days to a Better Man" and one of the recent articles was titled "Find Your N.U.T.s." and it, moreso than the other days, jumped out at me. Allow me to quote the article on what they mean:
“N.U.T.s are your Non-negotiable, Unalterable Terms. N.U.T.s are the things you’re committed to, the things that matter more than anything else... N.U.T.s are the boundaries that define you as man... Your N.U.T.s are uniquely yours. They reflect who you are as a man and the man you want to be. Compromise your N.U.T.s, and you’ll compromise yourself.”
Now, I've known for quite some time what some of my core values are. I knew that I place God first, family second, career third. (Note: Actually, the exercise I went through for this made me realize that friends are third and career is actually fourth.) I knew who I was and what I was about and was confident in that. This blog, however, asked me questions that forced me to write my N.U.T.s. down and it was a really good exercise. This helps me remember who I am in those moments where I might compromise.
As I said earlier, there are twenty N.U.T.s. that I have written for myself. I would like to share them with you now:
- I will love the Lord, My God, and serve Him above all others.
- I will be faithful to my future wife, both now and when we are married.
- I am a man of my word-period!
- I will devote at least three hours a week to my writing.
- I blog about my life and walk with Christ at least once a week.
- I stay current on the news of this world.
- I will spend at least an hour a week reading a book.
- I maintain my friendships with the men in my life, despite distance.
- I do not allow my dreams and goals to be sidetracked by life's circumstances.
- I will focus on the task at hand and make every minute count.
- I am not afraid to be honest and speak my mind, but will do so lovingly.
- I welcome feedback, both personally and professionally.
- I do not compromise who I am to placate others or advance in my career.
- I am my own person with my own opinion that does not sway on a whim.
- I will plan at least three hours each week to simply play.
- Fear does not keep me from taking risks.
- I do not indulge my addictions.
- I take my problems to men, not to women.
- When name-calling begins, the discussion is over.
- I ask for help when I am not being the man I want to be.
