44 Habits That Are Keeping You Stuck

Hey bro,

There’s a moment in every man’s life when the distractions stop working.

The sex.
The weed.
The hustle.
The gym.
The next woman.
The next win.

None of it hits the same anymore.

You’ve outgrown the performance.
You can’t lie to yourself like you used to.
Because deep down… you know.

You’re disconnected.

Not from the world.
Not from success.
But from yourself.

And when you’re disconnected from you—you can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone.

This post is for the man who looks “put together” on the outside…
But inside, he’s tired.

Exhausted from pretending.
From pleasing.
From pushing down what’s real.

Read the following list slowly.
Be honest.
Not to shame yourself—but to see clearly.
Because clarity is the beginning of freedom.

🧍‍♂️ ALIGNMENT & INTEGRITY

These patterns fracture your power at the root. They keep you stuck in survival while pretending it’s success.

• Lying to yourself – calling survival “success.”

• Playing a role – instead of being real.

• Dodging hard choices – clinging to comfort over clarity.

• Knowing what to do – and not doing it.

• Preaching one thing – living another.

• Shrinking to please her – self-abandonment in disguise.

• Staying where you don’t thrive – ignoring your soul’s compass.

• Choosing pleasure over purpose – dopamine over destiny.

• Telling yourself you’re stuck – when you’re just scared.

• Letting unresolved pain lead – running life on old trauma.

🌍 SOCIAL LIFE, BROTHERHOOD & BELONGING

Loneliness doesn’t come from being alone. It comes from hiding who you are. Here’s how you stay isolated—even in a crowd:

• Being “on” all the time – performing instead of connecting.

• Lacking deep friendships – no one really knows you.

• Keeping the wrong friends – afraid to walk alone.

• Faking success – trying to impress instead of relate and connect.

• Saying yes out of guilt – burning energy on misaligned commitments.

• Dismissing your need for connection – pretending you’re good solo.

• Gossiping – bonding through judgment instead of depth.

• Avoiding new friendships – fearing rejection more than isolation.

• Hiding your truth from men – fearing exposure or emasculation.

• Wearing masks in every room – never letting anyone all the way in.

• Isolating when in pain – shaming yourself into silence.

• Feeling like an outsider – even when surrounded by people.

• Judging other men – to feel superior instead of secure.

• Avoiding hard conversations – letting resentment rot the roots.

• Never feeling truly seen – because you’re never fully revealed.

• Hanging with people who drain you – afraid to walk alone.

• Not having real friends – only surface-level connections.

• Pretending to be someone you're not – to fit in.

• Laughing at jokes you hate – just to be included.

• Being the “funny guy” – to hide your pain.

• Gossiping – feeding drama to avoid intimacy.

• Competing with other men – instead of building with them.

• Isolating yourself – telling yourself no one gets it.

• Always needing to be the smartest, strongest, or coolest.

• Being surrounded but lonely – no one sees the real you.

• Not asking for support – thinking it makes you weak.

• Keeping the peace – even when it costs your dignity.

• Avoiding deep conversations – afraid of being vulnerable.

• Staying in groups that judge growth – afraid to outgrow them.

• Talking but never being heard – hiding your real voice.

• Never initiating connection – waiting to be invited.

• Constant comparison – killing your peace and confidence.

• Being liked by everyone – but loved by no one.

• Not being around men who challenge and inspire you.

If you see yourself in these patterns—good.
That means your awareness is coming online.

But awareness alone isn’t the goal.

Real change begins when you get back in integrity.
With your truth.
With your values.
With your vision.

And that doesn’t happen by reading more.

It happens when you start telling the truth, stop hiding, and surround yourself with men who will call you higher.

Let’s get real.

—Cory