The Slow Rot of Reality [Men]

The slow creeping of rot isn’t just in your body or your relationships — it’s in your mind. It’s in your beliefs about who you are and who you’re supposed to be. Over time, you’ve let those beliefs sink into your bones, becoming part of the very fabric of your identity. You’ve accepted the roles that society handed you without questioning if they were truly yours to play. You’ve become the good husband, the provider, the man who never complains, who grinds through life, always putting others first.

But somewhere along the way, that rot started to spread, eating away at the core of who you are. It’s subtle at first, a small compromise here, a little sacrifice there. You let go of the things that used to light you up, the passions that made you feel alive, the dreams that gave you purpose. You tell yourself it’s just what has to be done, that this is what being a man is all about. But with each passing year, the rot grows deeper, the decay more profound, until one day you wake up and barely recognize the man staring back at you in the mirror.

You’ve been told who you should be for so long that you’ve forgotten to ask yourself the most important question: Who are you?

Who are you when you strip away all the expectations and the roles? Who are you when you’re not defined by your job, your relationships, your responsibilities? Who are you without the weight of all the things you think you’re supposed to be?

Who are you?

Really, who are you? Without the mask, without the façade, without the need to prove anything to anyone — who are you?

Ask yourself again, and this time, really listen: Who are you?

Not the man your parents wanted you to be, not the man your partner thinks you should be, not the man society expects you to be. Who are you?

Dig deep. Strip away the layers of rot, the false beliefs that have been holding you back. Who are you, truly, at your core?

Ask yourself, over and over again, until you find the answer that feels like truth. Who are you?

Who are you?

Who are you?

And when you find that answer, hold onto it. Let it be your guide, your north star, as you start to reclaim your life. It’s time to peel back the layers, to get rid of the rot, and to become the man you were always meant to be. Who are you?

Only you can answer that. And only you can make the choice to live a life that’s truly yours.