One of the core challenges that many men face is harsh self-judgment, or getting caught in our inner critics and self-loathing.
What's often missed is that when we are turned against ourselves in some way, it is very difficult to let in love from others, to feel genuinely close to others, and to feel connected with the world.
Self-judgment cuts us off.
A strategy like self-affirmation can help to a certain point, but we need a transformation in our relationship with our inner world.
It is about remembering how to listen, being present with what is really here, and being able to hold ourselves and parent ourselves.
As we open our hearts to our inner life it naturally extends the life around us.