A Man’s Heart

A Man’s Heart

Society has dismissed men as lacking emotion or unable to feel.  Maybe it’s because of the way boys are raised; we are told to “man up” and taught that crying shows weakness.  It’s because of this that we grow up unable to accept our true feelings or to have to tools needed to express them.  When in truth, we think and feel just as deeply, but express our feelings through a secret code.  A code that even we can’t decipher.  Ever wonder why the suicide rate is significantly higher in men than women?  The heart can only store so much before it explodes and results in suicide, self-harm or living with a broken spirit.

As men, we are under a lot of pressure and if we show weakness, doubt spreads regarding our ability to provide and stay strong.  I have loved and lost and through it all, remaining strong to live up to the expectation of what friends and society expect a “real man” to be.  How many times have you held back, repressed or pushed down your true emotions to make sure you “kept it together”. I think as men we have all experienced many times when we have felt misunderstood or unable to share our true feelings; all because of the fear of the other person’s reaction.  I can admit to myself that I have let those buried thoughts affect my actions, ended some relationships in the past and often felt kept in a box.

REALITY CHECK.  You will not feel any better if you do not admit your true feelings.  By denying emotions like vulnerability and sadness, you may allow them to manifest as anger or pride.  Have you ever felt so upset or disappointed in yourself that you ended up projecting your anger at someone or something else? Have you ever been so discouraged or frustrated that you used another “acceptable situation” to release some tears?  Football and hockey players are thought of as some of the most “macho” individuals and yet they appear to be comfortable expressing their feelings with each other during a game.  Where else can we see men patting each other on the butt, embracing and cheering?  If it wasn’t for the safe place of our circle of friends or a team environment, would the same sharing of emotion be acceptable? I would bet that you wouldn’t see the same level of openness.

I encourage all men to take the steps they need towards getting in touch what is really in their heart.  Don’t you wonder why the second you shut things down and try to relax, the headaches come?  Stressed on vacation unable to figure out why?  The daily grind keeping you stuck in a routine to cover it all up.  The suicide rate is significantly higher in men than women because we keep things locked up and it’s killing us.  Men, find a safe place, a trusted friend, family member or spouse, and get some of this weight off of your chest.  Telling someone what’s keeping you down is not being weak, it’s the ultimate show of inner strength. 

Inspiration – Keep This In Your Heart

“The tragedy of life is not death, but what dies inside of us while we live.” – Robin Williams