There seems to be a steady rise in male inspirational writers and motivational speakers. Not of the “Never give up!” or “Five steps to be successful,” self-help variety, but men who seemingly understand the struggles that most women face in their daily lives, with themselves, and within their various relationships.

About a decade ago, Bishop T.D. Jakes wrote a poignant and, arguably, powerful novel entitled, Woman Thou Art Loosed. In 2004, the novel was turned into a film by writer Stan Foster, and producer Reuben Cannon, starring Kimberly Elise and Loretta Divine. It tells the story of a young woman who is facing and fighting the reality of her tragic past filled with sexual abuse, drug addiction, and poverty. For the past few years, Jakes has edited Bibles, produced several of movies and stage plays, and even held an annual women’s empowerment conference under the “Woman, Thou Art Loosed” banner. Not to say that he started the revolutions of helping women heal through encouraging words, but he is, arguably, one of the pioneers of this movement. I am currently enjoying The Holy Bible: Woman, Thou Art Loosed Edition, edited by Pastor Jakes. It opens with a “Leading Ladies” section that reveals the lives of some of the key women in The Bible, and expresses how these women’s stories represent many setbacks as well as comebacks that women today can relate to and understand.

In 2009, comedian and talk show host, Steve Harvey published Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment. In his book, Harvey allows women to gain a better understanding of how men think, in terms of relationships. He provides women with the knowledge to avoid heartbreaks, but he also provides the necessary steps to take in order to build a healthy relationship that should eventually lead to marriage. The book quickly became a #1 Bestseller, and was later made into a movie – Think Like a Man – with a sequel, Think Like a Man Too, premiering in theatres nation-wide, this weekend.

But “self-help” geared toward women have not just come from great influencers such as Bishop Jakes and Steve Harvey, but also other men, from a younger generation, who have a passion for women, and want them to succeed in life, on a holistic level.

Paul Carrick Brunson

Paul C. Brunson, referred to as a “life-coach” by Oprah Winfrey, has been recognized as one of the most successful matchmakers, and is the founder and president of the award-winning matchmaking firm, The Paul C. Brunson Agency. He received an NAACP award nomination in 2013 for his book, It’s Complicated (But it Doesn’t Have to Be): A Modern-Day Guide to Finding and Keeping Love. Brunson’s understanding of relationships and personal-development have gained him notoriety throughout over 180 media outlets. Twice a month, Brunson holds a 1-hour live Skype chat with readers and viewers that involve one-on-one mentorship, conversations and advice on life and relationships, which has become a popular hashtag on Twitter, known as #MentorMonday.

Rob Hill Sr.

Rob Hill Sr. has an extremely loyal social media following reaching half a million people on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. His fame comes from his countless amounts of poetic words from his books. Because he is so transparent with his writing, he makes his followers feel understood, which has gained him the name, “Heart Healer.” His fans also have enabled him to be a bestselling author on Amazon with his books, I Got You: Restoring Confidence in Love and Relationships, and For Single People Who Still Understand the Value of Relationships. Hill is the founder of Thousand Kings Foundation, Inc., an organization that proves he doesn’t aspire to only inspire and uplift women, but also teens. Through community-based events, Mr. Hill raises scholarship money to provide better futures for youth.

Stephan Labossiere

Stephan Labosierre strives to help not just women, but also men experience happier and healthier relationships on a more spiritual level. His #1 Bestseller, God Where is My Boaz? Encourages women to look deeper into why they are unable to settle down. Stephan says “this book isn’t just for single Christian women, but also for women who desire God’s best for their lives.” In other words, instead of analyzing what might be wrong with the men women come in contact with, he wants women to do some soul-searching, and figure out if something – such as heartbreak, divorce, sexual abuse – from their past is keeping them from what they deserve.

Enitan Bereola, II (Photo Credit: Kay S. Jay Photography)

Lastly, the man behind the latest social media uproar of “retweeted” and “reposted” quotes is Enitan O. Bereola II, who brands himself the “contemporary gentleman.” Through his works, he encourages young men to treat women with respect throughout the dating process. He attempts to make men and women better people, for each other. Bereola’s first book, Bereolaesque: The Contemporary Gentleman and Etiquette Book For the Urban Sophisticate, became a bestseller on Amazon. Currently, social media has been raving about his book for the ladies, entitled Gentlewoman: Etiquette for a Lady, From a Gentleman. Stay tuned for a review of Gentlewoman on UrbanFaith next month.

Every so often a woman cries, “There are no good men available,” but these men prove that they are out there and willing to walk with women through the problems they may experience in relationships of all kinds. These men are on a mission to co-partner with women in the work of healing mind, body, and soul and are probably not the only ones.

Do you have a favorite male inspirational writer or motivational speaker?