As I drifted my way into my 30s I realized something. I’m not okay. In all honesty I hadn’t been okay in a long time. Life, and all that comes with it, had overwhelmed me. I was struggling under the weight of expectation and everything was suffering because of it. My finances, relationships, and health were all in danger and I couldn’t understand why. I was putting so much effort into everything and constantly coming up short. Why? Why is everything such a struggle? Why won’t something, anything, just work?
Then, over The Holidays it hit me. Yeah, just like one of those schmaltzy cable TV movies, I had my epiphany. I even had the whole overdramatic look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror-and-say-it-to-your-own-face moment.
“Dude, you have depression and anxiety.”
That statement, by the way, is a completely different thing to say than “you’re depressed and anxious.”
Being something only admits how you’re feeling in the moment. Having something admits that this is an ongoing issue. To frame the difference in a physical sense it’s the difference between getting hurt, and being injured. Hurt needs a bandage and a little TLC. An injury needs time, care, and often some form of therapy.
My Mental Health was injured.
That was the real turning point. Finally admitting to myself that I wasn’t just “bummed out” because things weren’t going the way I wanted, but, things aren’t going the way they could because my Mental Health is subconsciously sabotaging my efforts.
Making this distinction real to myself set me on a journey. I began to examine myself on a level that was, and often still is, uncomfortable. I didn’t shy away from it though. In fact I’m certain some people think I became a bit too candid about what I found. I was always the Strong Friend, why am I suddenly spilling my guts all over social media about my personal issues?
It’s exactly because of my reputation as the Strong Friend that I knew I had to speak up. As soon as I did I discovered two things:
I have an incredible support system encoraging me to speak out.
There’s an audience that wants, and needs to hear what I’m saying.
So, here we are. I’m officially launching Posititve Masculine Achievement. A platform to discuss Men’s Mental Health and Fitness in an uplifting, encouraging environment.
Let’s Go!
Positive Masculine Achievement 