Authentic Men's Group podcast
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7 Common Signs You’re Feeling Shame as a Man Most men don’t like to look in the mirror—not the one in the bathroom, but the one that shows us what’s going on inside. We’re raised with messages like: You can’t change the past. Just move on. Don’t dwell. And on the surface, that sounds like wisdom. But underneath, it keeps a lot of us from practicing self-reflection… because we’re not just afraid of guilt. We’re afraid of shame. See, guilt says, “I did something wrong.” Shame says, “There’s something wrong with me.” One leads to responsibility and growth. The other...
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Using Boundaries in Every Circle of Relationship Healthy relationships are built on respect, understanding, and trust. At the core of maintaining these elements are boundaries—clear lines we draw to protect our well-being. The Circle of Relationships model by Brian Frizzell offers a helpful visual to identify the depth and nature of our connections. When we combine this with a clear understanding of boundaries and requests, we gain powerful insight into how to handle different types of relationships with clarity and self-respect. Recap: Setting a boundary is knowing, checking, and...
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What the Heck is a Boundary? A boundary isn’t just a rule—it’s a way to identify, communicate, and maintain the environment you need to be the person you want to be. Boundaries aren’t about controlling other people. They’re about controlling your space and how you respond to what happens in it. 🏡 Fence Analogy: Think of a boundary like a fence around your house. You’ve got a walkway up to the front door—that’s how you do relationships with me. That’s the space I’ve clearly defined where I invite people into my life. Now, let’s say someone jumps my fence,...
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Cracking The Coping Code Do you wish you could quit your unhealthy coping mechanisms or bad habits? Many of us find ourselves trapped in cycles of behavior that don't serve us well. Whether it's substance abuse, avoidance, negative self-talk, excessive screen time, emotional eating, isolation, procrastination, overworking, or aggression, porn, these coping mechanisms are familiar yet unhelpful tools we often use to self-soothe. It's crucial to remember that resorting to these habits doesn't make us bad people; it's merely our way of attempting to regulate our distressing emotions. Think...
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Developing Emotional Autonomy in Relationships How do we navigate this vulnerability? By building emotional Autonomy. This means taking ownership of your emotions—understanding them, and managing them. It’s about knowing yourself and being responsible for your emotional state rather than numbing out or blaming others. Emotional Autonomy vs. Emotional Immaturity: Emotional Immaturity: “You made me feel this way.” / “I’m fine” (when it’s not true). Emotional Autonomy: “I feel this way. It’s okay to feel this. I’m going to own this emotion and use my resources to support...
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Emotional Autonomy is about owning your emotions and managing them in a way that strengthens your relationship with yourself without harming others in the process. It's learning to take responsibility for what you feel and working through those emotions in a healthy, constructive way that respects both your well-being and the well-being of those around you. Autonomy involves having the freedom and capacity to act according to one's own principles, values, and interests while taking responsibility for the consequences of those actions. In essence, autonomy is about self-determination,...
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The Vulnerability Myth (Part 1) Let’s face it— dating and relationships can be a minefield for men. On one side, we’re told to open up, be vulnerable, and share our emotions. But when we do, the response isn’t always what we expect. Sometimes, it’s met with anger, confusion, or even panic. Other times, it feels like the person across from us wants to jump in and fix our problems as if we can’t handle them ourselves. It’s a tricky balance. Here’s the truth: being emotionally aware and understanding how to regulate our feelings is critical for men. But vulnerability alone...
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What is “Shadow Work”? Shadow Work involves digging into the parts of ourselves we've hidden away because they seem too ugly, weird, or unacceptable. This survival tactic might help us through childhood, but it wreaks havoc on our adult lives, leading to inauthenticity. Shadow Work is about embracing your whole self – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and integrating these parts into your life. The Enneagram and Shadow Work The Enneagram is a powerful tool for understanding our personality and the shadow parts we hide. Each of the nine Enneagram types has qualities that...
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Shadow Work (Part 2) Today, we're diving into a topic that’s as crucial as it is uncomfortable: authenticity. Let me set the stage for this podcast. Picture this: a man finds his marriage on the brink of falling apart. He's convinced he's doing everything he "should" do to keep it together, yet he feels like he's constantly falling short. Growing up, he learned that showing certain emotions or traits of himself like being “too excited” or “too hyper” could jeopardize his relationships and get him in trouble with his parents – "boys don't cry," "toughen up," “Good...
info_outline7 Common Signs You’re Feeling Shame as a Man
Most men don’t like to look in the mirror—not the one in the bathroom, but the one that shows us what’s going on inside.
We’re raised with messages like: You can’t change the past. Just move on. Don’t dwell. And on the surface, that sounds like wisdom. But underneath, it keeps a lot of us from practicing self-reflection… because we’re not just afraid of guilt. We’re afraid of shame.
See, guilt says, “I did something wrong.” Shame says, “There’s something wrong with me.” One leads to responsibility and growth. The other shuts us down and keeps us stuck.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the difference between guilt and shame and the common signs that you maybe struggling with Shame.
If you’ve ever replayed a moment on loop, avoided someone because of how you felt, or carried the quiet weight of not feeling “good enough,” this one’s for you.
You can’t change the past, but you can own it.
And when you own it, you start to change your future.
So let’s dive in!
Shame vs. Guilt (Quick Distinction)
Guilt | Shame |
“I did something bad.” “You can do better. Step up.” Can fuel action: apologies, new decisions Can be a catalyst for growth | “I am bad.” “You are not enough and unworthy” Anchored in fear, hesitation, self-sabatoge Stifles momentum and vulnerability |
Focuses on behavior | Focuses on identity; our ‘being’ |
Can motivate change | Can lead to hiding or self-loathing |
Feeling shame as a man can be hard to recognize because many men are conditioned to suppress or mislabel it. Instead of identifying it as “shame,” they might call it stress, anger, weakness, or failure. Here’s how to tell if what you’re experiencing might actually be shame:
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You feel like you’re “not enough”
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Thoughts like “I’m a failure,” “I’ll never measure up,” or “I’m not a good man” are rooted in shame.
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You may feel like you don’t deserve love, success, or respect.
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Example: You forget your kid’s school event and beat yourself up all day, telling yourself, “I’m such a terrible father. I can’t get anything right.”
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You isolate yourself
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You avoid friends, partners, or family because you don’t want to be “seen.”
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Shame often makes us hide—physically and emotionally.
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Example: A friend invites you to grab dinner after work. You say no—not because you’re busy, but because you’re feeling low and don’t want anyone to see you in that state.
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You get angry or defensive quickly
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Instead of saying “I feel embarrassed,” shame might trigger you to lash out or shut down.
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Anger is often a mask for shame.
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Example: Your partner says, “I miss talking with you.” You snap back, “Well, I’m always working to support this family—what more do you want?” You feel exposed, so you react with anger
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You obsess over being “strong” or “successful”
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If your identity is tied to performance, status, or stoicism, failure in those areas can trigger deep shame.
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You might fear being seen as weak or “less of a man.”
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Example: You injure your back but refuse to take a break from work or admit pain. Inside, you think, “If I stop, I’m weak. I have to keep pushing no matter what
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You feel emotionally numb
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Shame can lead to disconnection from your own feelings. You might say “I don’t know what I feel” or feel nothing at all.
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It’s a way to avoid the pain of being judged or exposed.
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Example: You receive bad news—your friend is going through a tough time—but you brush it off, saying, “That sucks,” and change the subject. You feel disconnected from the impact.
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You replay past mistakes in your mind
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If you constantly ruminate on things you regret or cringe at moments from your past, shame is likely involved.
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You may even punish yourself mentally for those mistakes.
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Example: You keep thinking about a breakup from years ago, wondering what you did wrong, convinced you’re unlovable. Even though you’re in a new relationship, you can’t let go
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You avoid vulnerability or asking for help
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Shame tells you that needing others is weak.
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You may think, “I should be able to handle this on my own.”
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Example: You’re overwhelmed with life, but when your brother asks how you’re doing, you say, “All good, just busy,” even though you’re struggling with depression and know you need support
What You Can Do
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Name it: Simply saying “This feels like shame” begins to take its power away.
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Talk to someone safe: A friend, mentor, coach, or therapist can help you process it without judgment.
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Practice Being Kind & Curious with Yourself: See Shame as a way your system is trying to protect you, and then be curious about what it is trying to protect you from.
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Challenge the belief: Ask, “Is it true that I’m not enough?” or “Where did I learn that this makes me unworthy?”
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Confront the shame at the root of the behavior. Radical honesty. Speak the truth. Know that you are good, even with flaws and imperfections.