🚀 New here? 

If you're new here, this newsletter is about helping men heal, grow, and redefine masculinity in a healthier way.

Each week, we break down real struggles and give you practical steps to move forward. Let’s get into it.

Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss next week’s edition: sign up here!

👋 Welcome Back to Thrive

Society tells men to be tough, emotionless, and always in control.

But what if these expectations are doing more harm than good?

This week, we’re diving into how toxic masculinity affects men’s mental health—leading to stress, isolation, and even serious mental health struggles.

Let’s break the cycle.

One Teachable Insight: The Hidden Mental Toll of Toxic Masculinity

Toxic masculinity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a deep-rooted cultural issue that affects how men think, feel, and behave.

The pressure to be "strong," "dominant," and "unemotional" often forces men into silence, leading to mental health struggles that go unchecked.

Here’s what happens when these outdated beliefs take hold:

• Emotional Suppression: Men are often taught that expressing emotions is weak.

  As a result, sadness turns into anger, anxiety turns into isolation, and stress gets bottled up until it becomes unbearable.

  Studies show that men are far less likely to seek therapy than women, leading to higher rates of depression and suicide.

• Fear of Vulnerability: Many men struggle to admit when they’re struggling because they fear judgment or ridicule.

  This leads to self-isolation, difficulty forming deep relationships, and an overall sense of disconnection.

• Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms: Without healthy outlets for stress and emotional pain, men often turn to things like substance abuse, workaholism, or even aggression as a way to numb what they’re feeling.

📊 The Stats Say It All:

• Men account for 75% of all suicides worldwide.

• 1 in 4 men suffer from mental health issues, yet less than 40% seek help.

• Men are more likely to use substances as a coping mechanism rather than talking about their struggles.

Toxic masculinity convinces men they should "tough it out," but in reality, this mindset is destroying their well-being.

Two Key Takeaways:

1. Being strong isn’t about hiding emotions—it’s about facing them. 

   Emotional suppression leads to bigger problems down the road. Strength comes from dealing with what’s beneath the surface.

2. Seeking help isn’t weakness, it’s self-respect. 

   Coaching, therapy, support groups, or even opening up to a friend can be the difference between struggle and growth.

Three Actions To Take This Week:

1️⃣ Self-Check: Take a moment to reflect on your emotional patterns.

Do you bottle things up?

Do you struggle with expressing sadness or fear?

Awareness is the first step to change.

2️⃣ Talk to Someone: Whether it’s a friend, mentor, or professional, break the cycle of silence.

Even a simple conversation can help release emotional weight.

3️⃣ Change the Narrative: The next time you hear someone say “Man up,” challenge it.

Ask, “What does that really mean?” Chances are they won’t be able to respond correctly.

Small moments of awareness can shift the culture.

Closing Thought:

Your mental health matters.

You don’t have to carry everything alone.

The strongest thing a man can do is ask for help when he needs it.

If this resonated with you, share it with a friend who might need to hear it.

Let’s change the conversation—together.

✉️ Hit reply and let me know—what’s one belief about masculinity you’ve had to unlearn? I’d love to hear from you.

P.S.

📩 Subscribe to Thrive for more insights on redefining masculinity and improving mental health by hitting “subscribe” at the top of this newsletter.

👉 Know a man who needs to hear this? Forward this email to him—he might thank you for it.

📢 Let’s build this community together. Share this newsletter on social media or in your group chats. Just send them here: Sign up here to thrive!

🔗 Want to go deeper? Join my NEW The 8-Minute Group for exclusive insights and real conversations with like-minded men: Join here!

👉 Did you get me FREE E-BOOK yet? No? Then get it here: https://lainc.kartra.com/page/7dayselfmasteryebook