Be Your Own Hero

Behind the face of 3 in every 10 men is an immense internal battle for his soul. He smiles, and laughs as if he’s truly happy. But the lines in his face, and emptiness in his eyes suggests otherwise. He’s grown weary from years of searching for meaning, a feeling of belonging, fighting the demons and shame that tell him he’s worthless. All which have left deep wounds that refuse to heal.

1 in every 3 boys grows up in America without a biological father present. Many men like myself, have learned to internalize our feelings, because we cast them away as weakness or being meaningless. Men are supposed to be “tough” and not share feelings. Or perhaps we hid them cause our mothers already had their hands full and we didn’t want to add more to their already overflowing plate.

Many men oftentimes harbor shame for their parents divorce, or their father abandoning them as if it were their fault. This shame leads to an immense feeling of unworthiness, as if you’re damaged goods.

Men will pack the weight of that shame, and unworthiness on their back for many years as it becomes heavier and heavier. They silently cry out for help, as their knees buckle under the immense weight. Sadly, many men succumb to the weight and eventually commit suicide. Men are 4 times more likely to commit suicide than women, and comprise 50% of the US population and 80% of all suicides in 2022.

So the next time you want to call into question the worthiness of a man, ponder on that for awhile and the internal struggle he may be facing daily. Your words are are like lead weights tied to his feet dragging him to bottom of the ocean as he frantically tries to keep his head above water.

Men, don’t fall prey to the victim mentality. You are the hero and creator of your own story. So be the hero, and save yourself from drowning in your own destructive thoughts and past trauma. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out for help. You matter, and your feelings matter. But YOU are the only one who can ultimately save yourself and start the journey that leads to healing and self fulfillment. #theunbroken #livelifeunbroken #suicideprevention #mensmentalhealth Photo by: @wandering_west_photography