redefine what it means to 'be a man'
Transforme Stories, Change Narratives, Build a Better Future
redefine what it means to 'be a man'
Transforme Stories, Change Narratives, Build a Better Future
I am Michael. I was born in Austria, in what many call the golden west. But for me, it was a golden trap. I grew up with physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. My hero, my father, taught me what it meant to be a real man by hiding weakness, suppressing emotions, and tears. For years, I thought I made it, only to realize I never looked into the darkest parts of myself. All my suppressed emotions came flooding back, and I felt like a failure, a loser, a man who could never make his father proud.
The fuckery didn't end there. My relationship with my firstborn suffered because I couldn't cope with my own 'man box' stories and father wounds. I was emotionally dead, unable to have a real relationship with myself, my loved ones, or my colleagues.
Here we are in 2024, and we still have 50 to 60 wars raging globally. Every day, women, boys, girls, and men are brutally abused physically, sexually, and emotionally. Many men are trapped in old narratives, while masculinity itself gets blamed as the overall evil. I'm sick of it. It's time to change the setting, the narrative, the history. It's time for fathers and leaders of a new generation to rise.
For generations, men have grappled with the expectations of being perfect fathers, leaders, and protectors, often dictated by the flawed narrative of 'BE A MAN', or 'A REAL MAN.'
This not only shapes our roles in society but deeply affects our personal lives, including our relationships with our fathers – the father wound. This unhealed wound can manifest in struggles with identity, leadership, and emotional expression. Many men – AND WOMEN – find themselves trapped in a cycle of wearing masks to hide their true emotions and playing societal roles that stifle their authenticity.
Understanding the intricate link between our experiences as sons and our roles as fathers and leaders is crucial.
It's time to confront these deep-seated narratives, heal from our past, and redefine what it means to be a man in the 21st century.
