This is an appreciation post for
@dalemoss13 and all the guys that are picking up a pen, participating in their own mental wellbeing. Because a dude who is present, visionary, and able to manage whatever comes their way is badass. Journaling provides all of that (and much more), if you let it.
Dale and I met at the
@allswellcreative writing table last summer at a workshop I led for
@ateam.co in Montauk. He recently co-hosted a book launch event with me at
@flowhousemiami . As a former
@nfl athlete (AKA modern day gladiator), it was great to hear him speak to his own relationship to mindful writing. The guys in the room were engaged, asking hard questions, looking for ways to leverage journaling to be their best selves.
āBro journalingā is one of my favorite chapters of The Big Unlock because it walks back the tired old tropes that prevent men from coming to the page, deriving the emotional and physiological upsides of journaling. Men need this. And not just for themselves. Whether youāre a head of household, head of a company or just in your own head, taking care of your mental health is vital. It benefits their partners, kids, colleagues, etc. Itās not selfish navel-gazing, itās a way to your look after your community.
From Wall Street warriors to former special forces veterans, Iāve lead mindful journaling workshops for some pretty unlikely demoās. And itās often in these settings that I witness the biggest breakthroughs, the most profound unlocks. According to a study out of UCLA, men statistically derive more benefit from journaling. Why? Because they have fewer culturally acceptable places for self-expression. The page can accommodate them without the risk of perceived weakness. Between the front and back covers of a notebook theyāre safe to say the unsayable, which provides tremendous freedom.
Big thanks to Dale and
@theflowtrip team for helping me spread the good word about The Big Unlock. If you love a man, buy him a notebook and a pen.