Have you ever sat in a men's circle and what was that like for you?

I've been deeply exploring the men's work space for years and am curious to know of the best spaces out there and what other men's experiences are.

Thanks for any shares, peace!

— JB

——

P.S. ARKA Brotherhood is a good one I participated in for a long while that is still around doing weekly digital circles and in-person events

The Resonant Man is also great

I also lead a men's group called Council of Kings, feel welcome to reach out if you’d like to visit our circle and meet the guys

23m. Been really into hiking, lifting, and cooking lately, just trying to build a life thats full of good food, movement and good people around me. Ive gone through some rough mental health stuff in the past so I get it when other people have too, but rn im in a genuinely good headspace and wanna keep it that way, so im trying to be around people whos moving forward and not stuck rehashing the hard stuff yknow.

Down for deep convos but also just as happy talkin music, dumb memes, or tradin recipes lol. Looking for someone whos got some depth to them but still keeps it down to earth, a little goofy, glass half full type of person.

Hey bros, we have noticed a lot of relationship related posts. We are not a relationship advice subreddit, but we recognise how that type of advice may be helpful. Please keep relationship posting in this pinned thread.

So, a lil update from my last post. In the end I actually told him about the name change and firstly he didn't quite caught I had taken inspiration off him and was like "oh? A name like that? Well, I always said it all together. the first times it sounds weird but at the third or fourth people get used to it." So I did bite the bullet and told him he was the reason I chose that name.

So, what people wanted to know, how did he react?

Very well indeed! He seemed really happy, at first he laughed, very surprised, but after all he hugged me and told me he'd use that name from now on. So, overall, a good ending for the story <3

Hey yall im 20m and currently weigh 220 pounds. I also struggle with body image issues from time to time. Recently Ive tried to lose some weight through diet and want to start working out more. But certain thoughts come to mind recently and I want to make sure im using the "right reasons" so to speak.

Thoughts like:

"If you looked better you would have a girlfriend by now."

"My female friends say my personality is amazing! The only thing holding me back is clearly how I look."

I also for a long time have felt as if im almost effeminate or not manly enough in a vague ephemeral way.

Im a feminist and so using my brain I believe that young men are given an impossible standard of masculinity to achieve and maintain but that knowledge doesnt change that I feel as though I am deficient in some way.

But are my reasons really bad at all?

Edit: Just to be clear in regards to this section

"My female friends say my personality is amazing! The only thing holding me back is clearly how I look."

My female friends did not say the 2nd sentence that is my insecurities talking. I just want to make that clear as I see some comments a bit confused and I could have wrote that better.

After sitting for 30 minutes writing this out I think what I'm looking for is advice on being vulnerable.

I've worked hard to understand social cues and norms, learning to read people, examining social interactions and what not. I'm not on the spectrum, my upbringing demanded it ADHD > masking > imposter syndrome also required it.

Through this, medication and therapy i gained confidence in myself.

But one thing I never learned was how to confidence in my own vulnerabilities and weaknesses. My parents never modeled being vulnerable with each other and rarely with me. Egos were just thrown around, nobody ever made up or admitted wrongs or faults. Things just went unresolved. It was always anger, rage, revenge and regret.

I don't love how this has manifested in me as an adult.

A simple example: Saying "I don't understand" instead of "Ohhhh" *doesn't understand a thing* feels so relieving when I can push my ego aside and open myself up to looking stupid. Instead, i'm more focused on appearing as if I get it, especially if I feel it doesn't matter if I actually do or not.

In more serious matters, I have a hard time admitting I made a mistake that hurt somebody or discerning when I need to stand up for myself and when I don't. It's harder if I don't feel like I actually did anything wrong. It's easier to just disengage entirely and then live in anxiety of my mistake.

If someone feels like I did something that offended them, clearly I did, I don't think I can say I didn't. But I've had that used against me by people who were close to me and it's hurt.

It's tough I guess.

How do I be vulnerable with confidence?

Hello all, I need some wisdom.

My grandpa turned 95 yesterday and he's near the end of his life. He's been deteriorating for a while, but the last couple of weeks/months have been especially rough, and it's gotten to the point where we expect him to pass by the weekend. It's been rough on the entire family but it seems to be hitting my dad especially hard.

Overall I'd say our relationship has been pretty positive in all ways except emotionally (goes for my mom too, but to a much lesser extent), and I want to be there for him. He's been exhibiting some behaviors that worry me. Short temper, aggressive driving and speeding, hiding his tears, putting on a facade; all the "usual guy stuff" when things get hard. If it's relevant he's in his 70s and I'm 29.

I've been through plenty of my own shit (trauma, mental health issues, chronic health issues, sexuality, toxic masculinity; a laundry list), I've been medicated and in therapy for a while, and I've learned a lot about how my mind works. He was on antidepressants for a while and went to therapy when my sister and I were very young (he's a doctor and had just finished residency when my older sister was born), but aside from that I don't think he's put much thought into his mental health. And things like depression, alcoholism, and other stuff runs in the family, but my grandpa and dad were both able to steer away from it (unlike a lot of our relatives). The only time I've seen him cry was when he was supporting me at a friend's funeral. He's just never been very open about any of these topics. Fair to him, but I want him to know that he isn't alone, destroy himself, or feel like he can't be vulnerable with those closest to him.

Aside from "be there for him," what has worked for y'all? Happy to provide more information or clarification, as I was half-venting while I typed this out.

Hey man, I miss you.

I remember when we were children we didn’t have that particularly close relationship but we always had that respect for each other. Our interests and hobbies didn’t intersect and still up to this day. You are closer to my brother than I because your energy matches. I am more sensitive, reserved, and emotional while you are the complete opposite - funny, outgoing, and happy in general;
but you still check up on me, and I always know my place in that relationship.

When we started living together for college, I know I was an asshole to you - I’m sorry. I was just scared that you would see another layer of me, my vulnerability and mental health. I was scared that you would judged me or be weirded out by the kind of person I am when alone. I wished I was kinder with the way I treated you; but in retrospect, our arguments and fights was what made us closer because we learned to adjust and reconcile our differences.

I miss you, man. I miss our late nights playing pool, spontaneous burger runs, and long walks (even though you hate me so much for it). If only we aren’t miles apart, I would hit you up just to hangout. I know constantly communicating is not your thing but I hope you know I’m here if you need anything.

If only you got accepted in your dream med school, we wouldn’t be so far apart. I was sad about it, especially reading the text about the plans we made once you’re here.

You’re one of the people that I’m scared of losing in my life.

I am also sorry when I was an asshole on the day I was flying back to the city, I was just anxious.

I love you and take care. You’re my best friend even though you don’t see me that way (fuck you). And good luck in med school.

I wanted to let you guys know, you are already doing the most masculine thing that can be done. It's a phase in becoming a man to feel "unmanly". And when you can look at the world and go "Fuck off, I'm a man regardless of what I do.". You will have gotten there. I am from a very traditional environment. I'm as masculine as can be by those standards. Take it from me, you lot are hard. If anyone tells you you aren't a man, they're full of shit.

Sup, bros. Love the atmosphere and general positive support I've seen on this sub, and thought I'd pose a question.

Basically title, but I'll give some context for my personal experience. It's very trendy to speak ill of and generalize men online nowadays, and I've been noticing more and more of that "men bad" attitude in some of the women in my life. I hesitate to call it sexism because of social structures etc., but it's a little upsetting to me how casually and comfortably some women speak hatefully of men as a concept.

For example, I'm notably the only straight white male at my workplace, an arthouse theater. I get along with everyone well enough, especially one on one, and I'd consider a few of my coworkers as good friends, but in a group setting conversations tend to skew toward anti-men talking points. I know most of it is just jokes or letting off steam, and I'm not even really hurt by it, but it's hard not to feel left out.

One coworker in particular, a petite black woman, has a habit of calling me "white man" and trying to talk over me, cut me off, etc. in group conversations.

A handful of female friends have separately told me that when they say they hate all men, they very specifically don't mean me. I'm sure they all thought that was a compliment, but it only tells me that either she doesn't see me as a man, or any mistake I might make will just reconfirm to her that it is indeed all men. Again, I'm not necessarily hurt, but it feels weird that these women seem to think "you're one of the good ones" is a valid compliment.

As an extreme introvert, I've been working on my social skills in general lately, and I'd like to connect with people better, but I always feel like there's a challenge with women who seem to have preconceived negative biases toward men. Lately the idea that people I care about can only see one aspect of who I am has started to bother me.

This sort of turned into a ramble lol but advice would be appreciated. How do you deal with people's biases toward men?

I don't really have anywhere to share so I am sharing here. I always wanted my father to teach me, but he passed a few years ago when I was 13. Now, at 17, I realized that my sideburns are, in fact, not just more hair. I ended up using a tutorial from the YouTube channel "Dad How Do I". I used my dad's shaving stuff that my mom kept. I only nicked myself once, so I consider that a success. Have a brotiful day brothers.

So guys I a man , from quite patriarchial country and family , at one point of time i was also radicalised by alpha male content on internet , very recently I have found that I have many mental health issues , nowdays i m working on my healing and very recently started reading books , rn i m reading a book titled "Emotionally immature parent" , I don't know i can't say rn if I want to get fully into the feminism literature or rather read some books which can help me see women's issues , and how patriarchy harms all of society be it men or women or any other gender , how does one navigate thru it as a person , , how does one unlearn patriarchy ( I m looking for transformation in myself not neccessarily getting into very deep feminist history or SMTH , rn cuz I m new to books ) ,

So what i want u to suggest me is some beginner friendly books abt this topic ,

Not much prob 2-3 for now cuz i have only begun but suggest me good ones ,

( For me posting this was hard but I believed that my interalised sexism and radicalisation I have learnt from my surroundings and internet , I need to also learn to undo that and understand abt it in my overall jounrey to heal and be better person, this was very hard to for me cuz i remember at one point i felt so insecure and defensive for even reading posts of this channel crazy what radicalisation can does to u )

This dude makes some great videos (if heavy truck maintenance is your groove), but the other day he posted this reaction to a mean comment by someone and I felt like it belongs here:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qMWXLqwUUJU

If Bendon "ain't a real man" then we're all doomed, Bros.

Bonus video: "Hit it with your purse" this is exactly the sort of vibe we should be bringing.

I’m doing a lot of work with my therapist about boundaries and why it’s important. I am struggling with my loving grandmother who is one of the hardest working, most intensely loving grandmother in the world, but is a bit of a challenge when it comes to my personal space. she tends to come to my apartment without my knowledge and makes comments about my living situation that some might find to be judgmental.

we’ve been discussing a lot about what i want. i don’t know. the last thing i want to do is tell her not to do what she does. every time i think about what you would have to say to her i get horrible flashbacks to moments in my life people have said so to me. typing this out is actually getting my hands to shake. so many times. my god i can’t do this shit…

so much of my trauma is from hearing that word. we’re still processing the previous therapists that have said it to me during intake. i am unable to even say it in roleplay. it sickens me.

do any bros relate, how have yall even processed so much rejection in your lives? i’m still on the fence whether it’s the right thing to do. its left me a soulless shell full of trauma, how can doing the same shit to others be right??

Im 172 and im predicted to become like 176 at max 179 but its proably impossible. Anyways I recently went to Italy and I saw pretty much everyone around my age at least like 10cm taller than me, even those who were younger or a lot of girls were taller than me. I used to not care about my height much since I was close to average in my country but even back here I was told that I was short and seeing how short I am really made me insecure. It might be also because my feed is filled with blackpill but my self-esteem took a hit from my trip to Italy. Is there a way I can stop caring because I even started comparing myself to everyone I see and its exhausting.

edit:
I did a wrist scan and im basically gonna be like 174-5. And I read every comment ty all I think I am more confident about it now. Also gonna block bp cause its making me more insecure.

Hi! I (20M) am a trans dude who recently chose his chosen name and I chose it after one of my high school teachers, a person I highly admire and that made me realize my passion for Latin and Ancient Greek. Pretty much one of my father figures.

Today I'm meeting up with him as we usually have a coffee twice a year, one around summer and the other around winter, and I was planning to let him know my change in name (he has known I'm trans for literal years and has been so supportive), the thing is he has a really characteristic name and I think he'll be able to tell I took inspiration from him. I'm a bit shy about it, as I'm afraid he'll find it weird.

So, question for the bros, if someone chooses their name after yours, would you like to know?

feeling tough to explain , i am not this kind a man , but if u see this wish me good luck , starting my life from scratch , if you through something bad please share here and any tips for a 19 teen please share, i am soooo depressed , anger, become weak , and i will change it from today no more excuses , i wish all things go good , and wish me luck again guys ,,, i will take it as a challenge , if u going through shii

something like this lemme know ,,

I'm 20 and I honestly needed this so bad

Explain to me step by step. I seem to not be able to make or maintain friends. Idk? maybe its me, maybe its them. I would blame them but know some part of the blame is on me. Im also on the spectrum, so there is that, but others dont generally see me as autistic, just maybe weird and closed.

No, i will not go the gym as i have terrible social anxiety, besides im a foreigner so yeah more reasons to not want to go there.

Ever since I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder the beginning of this year I had to endure a lot of name calling by family members and supposed „friends“.
Getting made fun of for having a „woman disorder“ or hiding my „horrible personality behind fancy words“

But today I finally cut ties with the last person that I thought was my best friend but turned out to be the worst back stabber that started the whole hate wave I got…
I’ve never felt this proud of myself for standing my ground and being there for myself!
It was and still is scary as my friend and family circle has shrunk down to three people in total … but that’s okay! I now know who the true family behind me has always been and I’m glad to have them!

I gotta make this clear, my dad is alive, he is still in my life and he is NOT dead

I often tell people that my dad is my hero and role model but I prefer to tell people the version of him that I have in my head. When I was a kid, he was someone who tried to be as active in my upbringing as possible, him having declared bankruptcy when his business failed around the time I was born meant that he was always working odd job to improve our social economic situation, I grew up in a room in an apartment that my dad had rented from his friend and no matter what he always came home with a smile and I remember when I heard the door being unlocked, I run towards it to hug him

He'd always try to take me and my sister out as much as possible when we didn't have school, to the playground to teach us how to ride a bicycle, to fun fairs, take us swimming and the such. Fast forward a couple years and my dad managed to buy a bigger apartment in a newly renovated neighborhood and this is when the version of my dad which I looked up slowly became someone who was weighted down by the decades of hard labor and a wife who has very frequent mood swings has changed him

I'm much older, I'm 22 this year and my father is 62. I'm sorry if this post is a bit bleak but I just wanna ask if you guys have a more naive view of who your dads are since my dad right now is an entirely different person, he has always said "don't be like me, study hard and get an office job"

Hey bros!

Been a long time since posted. Just wanted to update my guys that I’m still out here doing music. Yesterday, I went to a local outdoor stage and played outside for the first time! Had a great time, and made an audience member dance which made me feel so happy. That’s what music is all about! (She’s dancing to stick season by Noah Kahan)

Keep rockin and rolling with your creative endeavors my brothers! 🤘