Not all suffering is loud

Some of the deepest forms of self-destruction wear a smile, play it cool, and convince the world everything is “fine.”
But underneath? Are the archetypes silently wrecking far too many good men from the inside out.

Here's a breakdown of three more extremely dangerous archetypes I see far too often:

1. The Cynic / Critic 

This is the man who hides behind sarcasm, judgment, or constant “realism.”
He plays it smart. Keeps things distant. Pretends like he’s above it all.
But the truth? He’s terrified of hope. Of trying again. Of giving a shit and being disappointed.

So instead, he stays sharp with his words but dull in his soul.

He mocks others' dreams while secretly wishing he had the courage to chase his own.
He’ll never admit it—but he deeply craves meaning, connection, and purpose.
He’s just been hurt too many times to believe in it again.

Core Wound: “Hope is dangerous—better to expect nothing.”

2. The Perfectionist 

This is the high-achiever who can’t slow down. The man who obsesses over doing everything “right.”
His entire sense of self-worth is built on image, results, and control.
He might look like a winner on paper—but inside, he’s anxious, disconnected, and exhausted.

Failure isn’t just scary to him—it’s identity-shattering.

So he avoids risk. He chokes on self-pressure. And worst of all, he robs himself of the joy and messiness that comes with real aliveness.

Core Wound: “I am only valuable when I succeed.”

3. The Addict / Escapist 
This is the man who numbs.
Porn. Weed. Booze. Hustle. Netflix. Dating apps. Whatever it takes to not feel the ache inside.
Stillness is terrifying—because it forces him to sit with what’s real.

And what’s real? Hurts.

He’s disconnected from his wildness, his emotions, his truth.
But instead of facing it, he escapes. He escapes so often he forgets who he even is beneath the dopamine.

Core Wound: “I can’t handle what I feel.”

Okay, let’s be honest: Every man will fall into one of these archetypes at some point in their life.
Hell, I’ve fallen into all three at different times.

But choosing to remain stuck in them? That’s what keeps your life small, disconnected, and painfully average. 

Make a decision to realign with your truth and reclaim your power from the inside out. 

Develop the archetypes that embody the raw masculine man you were born to be—not the one society trained you to settle as.

Decide now that you are going to become unrecognizable within the next 12 months, then put in the reps daily. You got this.

—Cory

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