Being a man today is hard. The men who came before us had a clear role to play. Bring home a wage, keep it together, don't show weakness. Today, that's no longer enough. A man today is expected to, yes, provide financially, but also to provide emotionally. Too much emotion? Well that's a problem. Too little emotion? Well that's a problem too. 
 
I get it. I grew up suppressing feelings because that is what I thought men did. But the suppressed feelings spilled out in other ways – anxiety, pleasing others, constant striving without awareness and just an overall feeling of discontentment.  
 
My own experience receiving therapy showed me there are different ways. When we stop suppressing our difficult emotions, the anxiety and depression often eases. When we are able to respect ourselves, we can strive from a place of gain rather than a place of lack. When we learn about our own needs, we understand that we don't need to please others or close off emotionally in order for those needs to be met.