The One Word That Changed My Healing Journey

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Hey Man is a weekly newsletter redefining men’s mental health by sharing personal stories, research-backed insights, and practical tools to foster vulnerability, connection, and support.

In this Newsletter:

• One word changed how I viewed grief, and it might change yours too.

• Three things keep men stuck in silence: grief, depression, and loneliness—but hope breaks the cycle.

• Even 1% more hope can be the difference between giving up and holding on.

The One Word That Changed My Healing Journey

When my brother died, grief hit me like a tidal wave. One moment, I was standing on solid ground, and the next, I was underwater—spinning, gasping, unable to tell which way was up. The world kept moving, people kept talking, but I was stuck beneath the surface, drowning in a pain I didn’t have words for.

I remember sitting in my car late at night, staring at the dashboard, feeling like I was disappearing. I wanted to scream, but what good would that do? The loss felt too big to carry, too heavy to survive. Grief was an ocean, vast and merciless, and I didn’t know how to swim.

But somewhere in that darkness, I found hope. Not in some grand, earth-shattering way, but in small, quiet moments. A friend who checked in. A memory that made me smile instead of cry. The realization that my brother would have wanted me to keep going. Hope wasn’t a rescue boat—it was an anchor, keeping me tethered until I could find my way back to the surface.

Hey Man…

For me, that word is hope.

It’s the antidote to depression and hopelessness. It’s symbolized by an anchor, grounding me through the storm. It’s the name of the college I went to.

In the depths of grief, when everything felt heavy, hope was the only thing that kept me moving forward. It wasn’t about blind optimism or pretending everything was okay. It was about believing that even in the darkest moments, there was something worth holding onto—a future not yet written, a light not yet seen.

Grief isolates, depression whispers lies, and loneliness convinces us that we’re alone. But hope? Hope reminds us that pain is not the final chapter. It reminds us that healing is possible, that connection is within reach, and that even the smallest step forward is still forward.

For many men, grief and depression feel like battles we have to fight alone. But that’s a lie. We’re wired for connection, and we heal through shared stories, support, and knowing that someone else has been through the storm and made it to the other side.

So here’s my question for you: What’s your one word? The thing that has kept you going when life felt unbearable? Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear it.

See you next week.