Most of us are hardwired to be “fixers.” When someone we care about—a brother, a partner, a friend—starts sharing their struggles, our brains immediately start scanning for the solution. We want to solve the puzzle, close the case, and move on. But here is the truth that most people miss: Men don’t need perfect listeners.
I’ve been hiding behind my “badges of honor.” Most people look at my life—the TEDx talks, the 200-mile ultramarathons, the book—and see a man who lives outside his comfort zone. But I have a secret: I’ve become comfortable with the grand discomfort. It’s the small things that are currently defeating me. This year, I am
On Saturday, I took a little jaunt to Lake O’Hara and ran the Alpine Circuit. It was one of the most spectacular days in the mountains. The beauty was breathtaking, and around every corner, there were gasps of “Wow” or “Holy shit!” There were times when emotion washed over me, and I could feel tears
His mom brought home his first guitar when he was 7 years old. She signed him up for lessons with a guy in a little cubicle, smoking a pipe, who introduced him to scales and tortured his students with his smoke and lack of interest. After a few weeks, he quit the lessons, brought that
Last week, I received an email. At first glance, it looked ordinary. But what it contained was anything but. The email was from a man who had been in one of my Emotional Fitness Bootcamps for Men with his organization a couple of years earlier. The note was simple: “Good afternoon Mike. I hope you
Let’s be honest. As men, many of us struggle with emotions. We either bottle them up or let them spill out in ways we regret. I’ve been there more than once. Peter Drucker was a renowned business management expert. The quote, “What gets measured gets managed,” is often attributed to him. In business, he is
October 2: The Day Everything Changed It’s now been almost a decade since I heard three words that forever changed my life. “Karissa is dead.” That was all he said. In that instant, my world collapsed. The wound that followed was deeper than anything I had ever known. I didn’t know if it would ever
Dear Men,
The holidays aren’t always joyful, and for many of us, they’re downright complicated. For years, I dreaded Christmas—wrestling with loss, disconnection, and the pressure to pretend everything was fine. But a conversation about the winter solstice opened my eyes to a new way of seeing the season.
This year, I’m not trying to fix what’s broken or ignore the pain. Instead, I’m creating something new—a holiday tradition that embraces both light and dark, joy and sorrow.
Join me as I share my journey in The Solstice of the Soul: Why I’m Creating a New Kind of Holiday Tradition.
Click to read and discover how you, too, can honor your own mosaic this season.
When was the last time you looked in the mirror—literally or figuratively—and felt frustration rise? That inner critic in your head, pointing out flaws, measuring your worth, and comparing you to a past version of yourself or some unattainable ideal? Most of us have faced it, and it’s a heavy weight to carry. Recently, I
In our group, one of the most powerful things we can do for each other is to simply hold space—listening without judgment, without rushing to fix, and without needing to offer solutions. I know it’s not always easy to ask for that kind of help. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming to even explain what we