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.

The viral "man vs. bear" thought experiment was never really about bears. It was about safety, masculinity, and what happens when we choose curiosity over defensiveness in conversations about violence and trust.