November is Men’s Health Month, and I look forward to the many conversations that highlight something I talk about almost daily - men’s mental health.
As a man myself, I think it’s critical to speak to the mental health of men. I have my own experiences coming to terms with and understanding my own emotional landscape, and much of that was learned on the fly. Many men, like myself, only come to learn the tenets of mental health and wellness later in life, often after some challenging circumstances have already set in. It’s often in those unfortunate moments that we realize, “Maybe I don’t know how to navigate this.”
These moments can be disorienting.
We do better by continuing to have these uncomfortable conversations.
This awareness and skills gap is one of the reasons why I wrote Meditations on Becoming Man: A Guide to Building Value, Purpose, and Connection in Your Life. I want to arm men, especially the young men who are on the verge of adulthood, with the insight and guidance to do so with the awareness and skills to take care of themselves as whole beings. My book is reflective of some of the lessons I’ve learned on my own personal journey, as well as insights from my work as a mental health professional for many years.
Recently, I was fortunate to spend some time speaking with therapist and author Amy Morin of the Mentally Stronger podcast. Her book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, is an international bestseller with over 1 million copies sold. Her podcast is just as popular. Morin interviews authors and experts about their unique contributions to health and wellness.
In our time together Amy and I explored what concerns men of today grapple with, how depression can look differently in men, and the ways men often use to cope. We explored anger as an umbrella emotion and how it often masks vulnerability and tenderness, and how important it is for men to develop emotional literacy to become the best community and family members they can be.
I had a great time in this conversation and I think you’ll really enjoy listening!
Listen to the full episode below:
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