08/20/2026
Seen a post referencing men’s mental health and the struggles they face every day. It's definitely something I think we need to have more conversations in way of.
The world has evolved, and with it, the stereotype of what it means to be a man and how masculinity is perceived. Men have emotions and feelings just like anyone else, yet for generations they’ve been taught that showing them makes them weak, less of a man, or somehow “not enough.”
When that simply is no longer the world we live in.
Humanity has made significant strides toward reducing the stigma surrounding mental and emotional health. We hear countless conversations about the challenges women have faced entering the workforce, balancing careers and homes, and navigating expectations placed upon them.
But who is talking about the other side of that equation?
If a man wants to be the stay-at-home parent, he can be criticized, shamed, judged, or become the punchline of jokes about being “pu**y whipped” or “the b*ch.”
If he takes time off work for childcare, the response can vary dramatically depending on gender.
Women often say, “Oh, he’s such a good dad.”
Men? Well... you already know what they are likely to say masked as jokes. When already insecure about something they don't land as humor is what can make them problematic.
Society places expectations on how men are supposed to look and behave. Those that take care of themselves, wear makeup, dress well, express their emotions, softer and kinder. Less domineering. Often get labeled gay, metro, feminine, trans, or somehow less of a man.
And yet we wonder why so many are moving toward choosing non-binary?? 🤷♀️🙄
No one gets to decide what being a man—or a human being—is supposed to look like for someone else.
Being kind is the priority.
Reducing stigma, harsh judgment, bias, and outdated beliefs is where real change begins.
Character tells us far more about a person than their outward appearance.
Any sheep can dress up in a suit, and any wolf can dress down.
Life isn't meant to be an act or a role we play. We're meant to live according to our truth and what is right in our hearts, regardless of what others think or say.
The problem is that knowing this is easy.
Doing it is where the health issues begin.
We don't talk enough about what happens when someone spends years trapped in their own mind and body, trying to live a life that doesn't fit who they are.
The pressure to conform often begins when we're young. Those of us who have done the work can remember the moments when we learned that who we were, or how we were, was somehow not okay.
So we learn to suppress.
We mask.
We adopt different personas depending on the audience.
And eventually, we lose touch with ourselves.
From my experience, the men who are the loudest about what it means to be a “real man” are often the ones who desperately need to do the work themselves.
Because being a man isn't defined by your position, rank, physical appearance, clothing, income, or how tough you can pretend to be.
It's character.
It's leadership.
It's whether you're grounded enough within yourself to lead in a way that makes others feel safe, seen, respected, secure, and valued in your presence.
Real men understand their own emotions and consider the emotions of others.
They recognize the value others bring to relationships.
They aren't afraid of vulnerability.
They understand that accountability isn't weakness, emotions aren't weakness, and asking for help isn't weakness.
Those things are human.
We can't have good without bad. We can't understand one without experiencing the other. Duality is necessary.
Maturity is learning to recognize both within ourselves, understand how they work together, and discern what each situation calls for.
Yet these are the skills we aren't teaching nearly enough.
If we want to bring back our men and “make the world great again,” we have to be willing to adjust our perspectives.
There is no going back.
There is only today and the future.
We get to decide the legacy we leave behind.
We are all hurt. We are all struggling. We are all facing challenges and trying to survive this thing called life the best way we know how.
Some make it look easy.
Others aren't afraid to admit they struggle.
And often, those are the people who have discovered that real courage and strength come from vulnerability and authenticity.
Not everyone will want to do the work.
It takes effort.
But if we actually want to see change, the work is required.
Otherwise, we'll continue repeating the insanity while asking ourselves why.
This is also where my own work has led me.
I've been cultivating a program designed to guide and support people who want to find their truth, protect it, embrace it, and begin making the changes that move them toward a life more aligned with what is right and best for them.
Because every heart that opens spreads warmth and kindness.
And that creates a ripple.
One heart at a time.
