Collective World

Dear Men: It’s Okay To Show Us Your Emotions

Showing your vulnerability won’t make you less of a man.

By

man wearing black, gray, and white plaid sleeveless top
Photo by J'Waye Covington on Unsplash

Showing your vulnerability won’t make you less of a man. Crying in front of your partner won’t make them think any less of you. Talking about what hurt you and showing your emotions is normal. Letting someone hear that crack in your voice while talking about something painful is okay.

Showing us your soft side or talking about the things that bring tears to your eyes won’t affect your manhood. Needing a hug or a pat on the shoulder or someone to just hold your hand or cuddle you for having a rough day won’t make you less masculine. Seeking emotional support because you feel like you need it is okay. Talking more about your feelings and what’s going on with you and sharing your insecurities is normal.

Expressing the words that have been said to you and hurt you is okay. Talking about the moments when you felt weak and helpless is okay. It’s okay to be emotional or to let yourself be vulnerable in front of us. It’s okay to tell us about the things you’re sensitive about.

You don’t need to have it all together all the time. You don’t need to buckle up your emotions all the time. You don’t need to be tough or macho 24/7. You don’t need to pretend that you don’t need any emotional support. You don’t have to push your feelings aside or hold back your tears. You don’t need to act okay when you’re not. You don’t need to act strong when you feel like breaking down.

Dear men, having these emotions and expressing them is normal. They don’t make you any less of men. They make you human. So, please let us in and share your emotions with us. Allow yourselves to be vulnerable in front of us. We don’t need you to act tough all the time. Sometimes we need you to let us be there for you when you’re feeling down or weak or sad or depressed.

I am sorry that this world has made it so hard for you to express your emotions sometimes, but I hope you know that there’s nothing wrong with it — it’s a necessity, actually. And it doesn’t affect your masculinity whatsoever. It just makes you human.