Counseling for Men’s Issues
Real men ask for directions.
There’s a well-known stereotype about men not asking for directions, or not reading the instruction manual and trying to do it themselves…poorly. While it’s become almost a joke, maybe there is something we can gain if we take this belief apart and really look at it. So why don’t men ask for directions? Simply put, men have been conditioned to believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness or that it means admitting defeat. It can hurt a man’s pride if he has to admit he can’t do something by himself. Regardless of whether he can admit it or not, the fact remains – if you don’t know where you are headed or what you are doing, you are lost.
How you cope with being lost can be very telling about your character, and it sheds light on your beliefs about what it means to be a man. Some men will go out of their way to ensure that nobody catches even a whiff of weakness or vulnerability. This tactic requires that you avoid thinking about the problem, avoid saying how you feel about the problem, and foolishly hope that the problem will just go away on its own. Problems never just go away unless you confront the problem head on and fix it. And I think you know that. Aren’t we men supposed to be “fixers” and “doers?” Then why do we insist on letting the problem fester and eat away at us? It is said that men are more logical, but this strategy is anything but logical. This approach only wears us down and takes away from our ability to be effective problem-solvers.
One of the toughest things you can do as a man (if being tough matters to you) is to take responsibility for your life by “giving in” and asking for help. But even after you ask for help, don’t be surprised if you still feel lost. Since you’ve never really asked for directions, you might have no idea what to do with them when you actually get them! So you need a guidebook with instructions on how to be the best man and human you can be. The problem is, most instruction manuals on being a man are so outdated and out of touch with reality that they’re bound to confuse you and get you lost all over again. What you need is a competent guide, at least until you get better at finding your own way.
Michael Sieger is a licensed therapist who specializes in treating Men’s Issues. He also happens to be a man. Mr. Sieger is equipped to help you rewrite the instruction manual on being a man so that you can successfully navigate the rough terrain of an ever-changing world. You deserve to feel strong and confident, like a real man. Mr. Sieger will help you learn what it really means to be a successful partner, father and/or provider. He will also teach you how to tap into strengths you didn’t know you had and use them toward your fullest potential.
How you cope with being lost can be very telling about your character.