I realized pretty early on that I had a special capacity to speak with other humans. I was fascinated by what other people had to say, and was one of those lucky few who seemed to make others comfortable; they’d just open up to me.
As I went on my journey of self-discovery and self-improvement, my knowledge of this world grew, and I found myself having some very deep conversations…and people would often come to me seeking guidance or advice.
The interesting thing about the men that came to talk to me is that they always had the answers within them. There were of course themes that showed up all the time – disfunctional relationships, anger, issues of sex and sexuality, purpose/passion, managing careers – but in just about every instance, I was able to offer just a modest insight into their lives and their whole world view would change.
My practice isn’t about telling people what to do or how to do it. I’m not a consultant or someone who pretends to have all the answers. There is no one with better insights into your world than you, but men need a corner man who can observe and help identify blind spots. And this is the last theme worth exploring here. Of the men I work with, just about every one has no close friend or support group to whom they can talk about these issues. Sure, there are drinking buddies and guys to play sports with, but to open up about the things in life that scare us most? Nope. And this is why I’m here…