Teacher turned professional speaker, Rick Broniec, has a long list of achievements to his name, but his most recent is, perhaps, the most impressive. A few weeks ago, his contributions as a training leader and motivational speaker were highlighted by an international men’s organization known as the ManKind Project. Over the years, the nonprofit organization has given the Circle of Honor Award (its version of a lifetime achievement award) to only ten recipients. Now, Broniec – otherwise referred to as the Vibrant Relationships Guy – is one of the distinguished names on this brief list of Circle of Honor Award winners.
The Circle of Honor Award is the culmination of years of work with the ManKind Project. As a ManKind Project leader and trainer, Broniec strives to change society’s perception of “manliness” and move beyond rigid stereotypes surrounding macho men, sensitive guys, and other narrow visions of masculinity.
The World Elder Gathering and the Seven Generations
Broniec’s recent trip to Hawaii was certainly a busy one for, in addition to receiving the ManKind Project’s Circle of Honor Award, he spoke at the World Elder Gathering (WEG). This annual meeting features several of the world’s most distinguished elders, who gather together to share the valuable insight they’ve gained over their years in service to changing the planet in a positive way.
During his World Elder Gathering presentation, Broniec spoke at length about his latest book: The Seven Generations Story: An Incentive to Heal Yourself, Your Family and the Planet. This book covers the tendency of families to pass down not only entertaining stories, but also far darker realities, such as trauma, mental illness, abuse and addictions. Very recent scientific evidence shows that this intergenerational passage likely occurs through altered genes which, if not addressed, pass these tendencies onto successive generations – also known as epigenetic changes.
While working with elders from all around the world, Broniec’s overarching goal was to get conference attendees talking about their family’s secrets. He believes that, by opening up and letting go of shame, and healing wounds, individuals can come up with the strategies needed to prevent problematic behaviors and conditions from being passed down to future generations.
At the World Elder Gathering, he achieved this goal by having attendees complete a variety of exercises that offered an in-depth look at their families’ legacies. Additionally, attendees were encouraged to journal about the stories that set their families apart, share their awareness in small groups, as well as to seek out healing modalities to end these stories within their generation.
Maintaining Vibrant Relationships
Hawaii is just one of several regions Broniec has had the opportunity to visit while helping his workshop attendees build strong relationships and improve their outlook on life. His motivational speaking career spans several decades and a vast array of audiences. In addition to his appearance at the World Elder Gathering, he has spoken at a variety of corporate events, non-profit gatherings, schools, and in several other settings on four continents and nine countries. His talks cover a wide range of topics, including everything from multicultural awareness to the power of crafting a mission of service. As he recently explained during a Business Innovators interview, “Once a person has a mission, there’s nothing stopping him or her from becoming the man or woman they were meant to be on this planet. I have a very strong belief that all of us are meant to be here, to be of service in some way.”
This is an exciting time for Broniec, who plans to continue to spread the powerful message that has earned him a Circle of Honor Award. His next big destination is Johannesburg, South Africa where he will further discuss the Seven Generations and the power of passing down healed family stories to the next seven generations.