Sadly, because most men are taught from an early age that “real men don’t cry” and while boys will grow and mature and become strong, men have also lost the skill of how to process THROUGH their emotions.
Instead they have just learned “coping” behaviors that numb their feelings so they don’t need to experience them.
Common ways men buffer against their emotions are over-working, over-eating, over-spending, over-medicating, over-scrolling, over-watching, over-listening, porn and masturbation, over-drinking, over-exercising, or over-sleeping.
These things will give them a hit of dopamine, but not a healthy source of dopamine; they are cheap forms of dopamine that only “medicate” temporarily but don’t bring about healing.
The enemy loves to convince men that these things are normal.
He would love to separate the husband and father from the family, by putting pressure on them to be the financial provider that he takes on a second job, and while that’s fine temporarily when God opens a new door of opportunity, but OVER-WORKING is often so they don’t have to spend as much time dealing with tensions in the home.
Or the enemy tries to tell them that they’ve earned the right to scroll or watch YouTube for hours on end because they’ve worked hard. But it keeps them from being present, not only with their family, but present with themselves!
When we “buffer” or “numb” it will keep us from being truly alive to all of our life!
Being someone who truly loves themselves, is also being someone who loves themselves enough to get real and honest with themselves.
And the greatest gift you could ever give your children is the healthiest, most loving version of yourself.
Being a good Dad not only means supporting your CHILDREN’S growth but it means loving yourself enough to support YOUR growth; mentally and emotionally.
Investing in yourself financially and with your time and energy to learn new ways to process, to find a coach who can listen, to practice feeling all the feelings until things begin to change.
If you are a man of faith, it will take more than just faith to become healthy. Faith is a huge part of it (believing who God says in His Word you are) but He also expects us to use natural wisdom. He has made provision for everything you need! When the NATURAL and the SUPERNATURAL come together, it creates an explosive force for God!
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, Dads! It’s time to put yourself first, so you can be the best Dad possible for those you love! ❤ ~Be Blessed, Jenny
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~JENNY RIEFLIN MINISTRIES~ 