What if masculinity isn’t something men need to continually prove? In this reflection on Lewis Howes’ The Mask of Masculinity, I explore the masks men learn to wear, how they can protect us from shame while keeping us from connection, and why recognizing the performance may be the first step toward building a more grounded masculine identity.

Growing up with emotionally unavailable or emotionally immature parents can shape how we understand our needs, relationships, and ourselves long into adulthood. In this reflection on Lindsay C. Gibson’s Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, I explore emotional neglect, the limits of labels, and one of the hardest parts of healing: accepting that understanding someone doesn’t necessarily give them the capacity to change.