Stand Like a Man

Stand like a man,
when the world trembles beneath your feet,
when chaos swirls in the air,
and silence is rare.
Do not tremble;
hold your ground in the stillness of your soul.
The storm is not yours to master,
only your own heart.

In times of turmoil,
when voices rise and fingers point,
you stand not to answer the noise,
but to live above it.
You do not owe the world your anger,
nor your tears—
those are for yourself alone.
A man stands with his mind clear,
unburdened by the weight of others' judgments,
free of their expectations,
unmoved by their praise or scorn.

Stand like a man,
not in pursuit of fortune,
nor fearing loss.
What comes and goes—
does it touch the core of you?
What is a man's wealth but a borrowed moment,
a fleeting illusion in time’s hands?
You stand,
not because you have or have not,
but because you are.
And in that being,
you find peace,
knowing that neither gain nor deprivation
defines the depth of your spirit.

Stand like a man when adversity rises,
when suffering draws near.
Do not flee from pain,
nor seek to hasten its departure.
Accept it as a companion on your path,
a teacher,
a guide.
For the fires that burn,
also forge;
and the weight that presses upon you
gives shape to your strength.
A man does not escape his trials,
but embraces them.
He stands tall,
because in standing,
he is tested,
and in being tested,
he knows himself.

Stand like a man,
and let your thoughts be steady.
In a world that sways,
you need not follow the tide.
Others may chase after the fleeting,
cling to the fragile,
but you,
you will root yourself deep in the soil of reason.
Your mind,
a fortress,
impervious to the winds of fortune.
The opinions of others,
mere echoes;
they pass through you
and find no anchor in your heart....