Blake R. Templeton describes how men surrounded by family and friends can still feel profoundly lonely. He traces it to a learned false strength that makes them disconnect emotionally and internalize shame. Without recognizing this pattern, he says, they stay stuck on an emotional island.
The loneliest men I meet are often surrounded by people, their wife, their kids, employees, friends, church, but nobody knows what they're actually carrying because somewhere along the way they learned to be strong. So they became strong and disconnected. What's crazy is if we don't realize that this is a false strength, we'll keep listening to the condemnation of the enemy, keep projecting strength, yet stay stuck feeling lonely on the island all by ourselves. DM. The word quiz, and I'll send over my custom diagnostic that shows exactly what's happening inside you and why you're feeling lonely.
