Why Men’s Work Works / Exploring the Masculine-Feminine Relationship Dynamic
In this episode, my guest Luke Adler and I explore the transformative journey of men's work, delving into the unconscious parts of ourselves that influence our behavior and relationships.
Our focus is on fostering deep personal growth, emotional intelligence, and healthier relationships for men.
We often get asked: Why do a men’s retreat? Isn’t one-on-one therapy more effective?
Surprisingly, no!
The power of a men’s group is that it provides crucial support, fosters vulnerability, and promotes personal development. We identify common barriers to intimacy and offer insights into overcoming these challenges to achieve deeper connections.
In this podcast episode, we compare the benefits of group work in men's circles with traditional one-on-one therapy.
Group work offers a sense of community and shared experiences that can be more impactful than individual therapy sessions.
We also discussed a common relationship dynamic that plagues many couples: the masculine-feminine power struggle. Let’s break it down…
Often when a female partner expresses frustration, the male partner responds with annoyance, dismissing her feelings as irrational or dramatic. This reaction leaves the woman feeling invalidated, leading to increased frustration or emotional shutdown.
Sound familiar?
You, as the masculine presence, might see her behavior as unreasonable, over-the-top, or even irritating. You jump into an explanation of why she’s wrong, her reaction is ridiculous, and she should just…calm down.
We all know how this goes.
This is the start of the big fights, that threaten to break up couples who were once madly in love. But it doesn’t have to be this way. To address this, we discuss how the masculine can alter their approach to deep love. This type of love requires significant effort, awareness, and self-work. Understanding why the masculine responds poorly to feminine emotionality is crucial.
During the Retreat, we will highlight the importance of slowing down and holding space for a partner's emotions without immediately trying to fix or dismiss them.
We will also roleplay these situations and how you can navigate them differently, creating a seismic shift in your relationship dynamic. It’s time to challenge the traditional stoic male archetype and promote vulnerability as a strength.
Join us at our Men’s Work Retreat, where you will receive:
Practical Tools to help you become a more compassionate, curious and courageous partner
Presence and mindfulness practices to deepen and stabilize your relationship
Methods to remain in your integrity even when things in life get difficult
Impactful new ways to develop resilience to life’s inevitable ups and downs
Relational leadership and communication skills
TIMESTAMPS
5:11 - The common relationship dynamic plaguing couples
9:00 - How the Masculine can alter their approach
11:00 - Why the masculine responds poorly to feminine emotionality
13:30 - slow down and hold space
18:30 - Why relationships are beneficial and important
20:00 - Why men need men’s groups
24:00 - Barriers to intimacy
28:00 - Masculine and feminine dynamics
42:40 - Why men’s work, instead of just 1:1 with a therapist?