Key points

Men face cultural pressure to hide vulnerability, even when openness could deepen connection.

Some women still react negatively when men show emotion, reinforcing the “man up” paradox.

Vulnerability is a muscle that makes life’s hardest and richest moments more meaningful.

Showing vulnerability can feel overwhelming Source: Yan Krukau / Pexels

Rising from my seat at the front table, a familiar acid burn crawls up my throat. It’s that failure lump I’ve carried for the past 16 months. Today is somber. My late wife Jane's celebration of life. She died just over a month ago after a 15‑month battle with leukemia.

More than 250 friends and family members fill the room, waiting for me to deliver her eulogy. With support from my friend Danny, I decided to open with a funny story

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