A Prediction that came into Fruition

Dave Hedges
Mar 25
3 min read

Last week I talked about influence and raising the average.

Since then I couldn’t begin to count the conversations I’ve had about how vulnerable young men are, the dangers of social media and the need for strong role models.

And I’m delighted these conversations are happening.

Here’s a wee something, back in 2010/11 when I was just starting to work with the Mental Health charity near Wg-Fit in Dublin, it was run by an incredible lady Nessa Canavan.

Back then Nessa predicted there was going to be a crisis of mental health problems in the late teens to early 20’s age group.

I don’t know what she based that on, but boy was she right.

And then, 15 years later, we’re all watching a documentary on the “Manosphere” and this “Red Pill Movement” that seems to specifically target that same demographic Nessa was talking about.

The demographic my two sons currently fit into.

And from my perspective, as I said last in last weeks post, these lads in this age group, and I speak for lads because I was one and I have 2 at home, I’m not omitting females or anyone else, I am only speaking from where I am. What people need in those formative years is leadership, mentorship and role models.

I was very fortunate to have had Sensei Jack Parker, my karate instructor in my corner when I fell off the rails around the age of 15. Without him as a role model, without his belief in me, my life could have taken a very different route.

What Jack gave me is what I have been trying to give people ever since, and that is self confidence tempered by respect.

The traditional martial arts are built on those principles.

In Karate & Judo, if you talk back to the ref, you’re disqualified, plain and simple.

You can’t step over the line because when you do, you get immediate consequences.

Similar things happen in Rugby, which is why they can mic up the ref and let people hear the interactions with the players.

Imagine that at a soccer match?

The idea of training, regardless of what the nature of that training is, lifting weights, running, martial arts, whatever.

The idea is to develop a person fully.

The “manosphere” folks seem to understand building muscle and physical fitness well.

But in my mind fitness isn’t just physical.

When I created the Force of Nature course, I laid out a 3 x 3 grid representing my view of fitness.

Three Rows titled: Strength, Mobility, Endurance

Three Columns titled: Mind, Body, Spirit

Meaning we can build Strength of mind, strength of body, strength of spirit

Same with mobility

Same with endurance

And in doing so, you find yourself.

You learn to be comfortable in your own skin

You find yourself less easily manipulated by those out there who prey on the vulnerable.

You will still be vulnerable, but you will be in control of that.

You will have courage, which in my mind is just the other side of the coin to vulnerability. It takes courage to be vulnerable and you need to make yourself vulnerable in order to demonstrate courage.

Understand that and the online grifters won’t be able to touch you.

The politicians will not be able to fool you

Your boss will either love you or start to fear you

3 rows, 3 columns. 9 boxes.

Draw it out for yourself, or grab the image below, and see if you can figure out tasks and training protocols for each of those 9 boxes.

I’d be fascinated to hear what you come up with.