“It’s a maaaan’s world.” – James Brown. It’s also a cold, complex, perilous world. The toughest men struggle, but there is a common conception that being a man is a walk in the park.
Some men prove their mettle by spending most waking hours at the office and accumulating as much wealth as possible. Others believe stay-at-home dad life is how a man demonstrates their value.
Every day, men experience a spectrum of emotional states—joy, anxiety, sadness (hopefully), exhilaration, dread, and empathy. Just because we sometimes bottle them up doesn’t mean emotions aren’t there.
When men compare themselves to guys they see on Netflix or Instagram, many see themselves as different. Many guys feel like a teenager in their angsty phase.
There’s a cliche archetype of a man venturing into the wilderness on his own, chopping wood, hunting bears, and redefining the limits of self-sufficiency. However, there’s nothing more masculine than lifting others into the realms of success and contentment.
Men are expected to maintain and project strength, as if being a man, by its very nature, makes someone strong. The truth is, maintaining psychological, emotional, and physical strength takes work.