“Man up.” “Work harder.” “Stop crying.” All common messages men grew up hearing – and internalizing – over time. In this article, we dive into the reasons why “tough love” can make it harder to process loss, harming boys and men alike. Whether you’re here to process your own grief, or here to support a friend, brother, father, or partner, we explain how “tough love” may be blocking men from processing loss from their lives.

Gratitude is often misunderstood as something you practice only when life is going well. When you are overwhelmed, grieving, burnt out, or facing uncertainty, gratitude can feel out of reach or even inappropriate. But gratitude, when approached realistically, is not about denying pain or forcing positivity. It is about widening your emotional field so that difficulty is not the only thing shaping your inner world. Read on for practical tips to enhance gratitude in your lif