Episode 156

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Published on:

29th Nov 2023

156. Healthy Men and Masculinity

Healthy Men and Masculinity

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Email: elemental.evanhw@gmail.com



Since the month of November has been dubbed Movember to shed light on men's health, Evan took this opportunity to speak about men's health and what makes up a healthy man. This episode largely focuses on men's mental and emotional health, along with how to navigate what being a healthy man looks like for you.

In this episode, Evan shares his opinion on why men are struggling mentally and emotionally, as well as some lifestyle changes that can help break this cycle of poor mental and emotional health. As always, stay tuned to the end of the episode for a break down of the show and actionable steps that you can implement into your life to apply the knowledge contained in this episode.

Enjoy the holidays, be grateful, and as always do everything with good intentions and connect to your elements.


DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for educational purposes only, it is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. Evan Roberts is not a medical professional and this podcast is provided on the understanding that it does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services. Statements and views expressed on this show are not medical advice, this podcast, including Evan Roberts and any guests on the show, disclaims responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information contained in this episode. If you think you have a medical problem please consult a medical professional.


Transcript
Speaker:

going on, everyone.

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Welcome to the elemental Ivan podcast.

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This is your host, Evan Roberts.

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And on this show, I break down complex

health topics from a holistic perspective.

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And y'all already know it is that time

of year when everyone's getting sick.

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Because it's the holidays, the seasonal

change of temperature and, uh, being

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around more people, uh, probably lack

of sleep and increased alcohol intake

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and, and probably poor food choices,

all kind of come together to make up,

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uh, this scenario for us in which, you

know, our immunities are just a lot

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lower and it's much easier for us to

get sick, but nonetheless, there are

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a few easy things that we can do to.

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Make sure that we're not

getting sick over the holidays.

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So very quickly, I just wanted to

explain a few of the things that

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I'm doing personally, to make sure

that I'm staying healthy during

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this specific time of the year.

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So first off, of course,

we're going to be out.

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Eating foods that were probably

not supposed to be eating.

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And that's totally fine, especially when

you're sharing good company with people.

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Uh, but just remember that in between

all of those meals is not an excuse

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to continue eating very poorly.

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Right.

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We want to make sure that we're still

eating very nutritious whole foods.

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Right.

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And making sure that we are

giving our bodies, the building

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blocks of a healthy immune system.

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So making sure we're having still

a good diet around all of these.

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What might be very delicious,

but not very nutritious meals.

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So make sure you're still eating

a lot of really good foods.

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Prioritize that sleep.

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You want to make sure that

you're getting good sleep.

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I know with all these holiday parties

coming up, you're probably going

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to have a few nights where you're

staying out later than you would

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like to, but nonetheless, try to get

as much sleep as you possibly can.

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That's going to do a ton of

wonders for your immune system.

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Uh, and then also of course, we're

going to be drinking alcohol or many

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people will be drinking alcohol, which

just try to keep it moderate if you

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are going to be drinking and, um, make

sure that you're staying hydrated and

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trying to really, uh, detoxify the body

of the toxins, uh, as best you can,

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which personally a little spirulina or

chlorella or chlorophyll will do wonders.

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Uh, in helping to detoxify the body.

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But those are some of the things

that you can really focus on.

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So of course, diet sleep, and then making

sure we're not drinking too much alcohol

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because it does help to destroy the gut.

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Uh, all the good gut bacteria in there.

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So we want to be very careful with that.

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Especially since over 70% of our

immune system is actually located.

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In our guts.

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So it's very important for us

to prioritize the health of our

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whole GI tract and microbiome.

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There.

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Uh, but on top of all of those things,

I do have a few supplements that

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I'm personally taking right now.

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And they're very focused on immunity.

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So first and foremost is colostrum.

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It's one of the newest products that

I've started trying, which if you're

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unfamiliar with claustrum, it's literally

the very first milk that is produced

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from, I believe it's all mammals.

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So the colostrum that I take is from cows.

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It's a.

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Uh, bovine based, uh, Claustrum

so this is going to be.

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Basically within the first, I believe

it's 24 to like 48 or 72 hours.

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That very first milk that the mother

produces is going to have just all

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the building blocks of really building

your immune system and, you know,

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keeping, uh, literally a baby healthy.

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Right.

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Uh, so that is what the classroom

is going to be doing for you.

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And I actually started taking claustrum

for, uh, the benefits of the, not even

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the immune system, but rather just the

gut in general for better digestion, uh,

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which I did see some benefits there, but I

really noticed the benefits with immunity

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and that's actually the main reason I

am continuously taking, uh, it's the arm

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rhe colostrum, that's the brand arm rhe.

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And I just felt that they had the best

process for, um, You know, kind of

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processing the claustrum and putting

it into powdered form to really keep a

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lot of the beneficial components intact

and, uh, you know, alive and effective.

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So that's why I went with, uh, Arma

claustrum I'm sure there's some

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other claustrum brands out there

that might be good, but this was

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just a personal choice of mine.

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And I really am happy with the

outcomes because it's been.

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In my opinion, really

helping my immune system.

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So number one was the

claustrum number two.

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You definitely want to try to

find a really good probiotic.

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I personally am taking the

ritual symbiotic at the,

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uh, at this current moment.

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So that's a pre approa.

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And a post biotic all in one.

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Once again, your immune system

seven, over 70% of it is in your gut.

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So we want to make sure

we're taking care of that.

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And a probiotic is a really

good way of doing that.

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And on top of those two things,

I also have been doing a green

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juice, uh, most mornings, maybe

like three or four mornings a week.

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The green juice I do is from Organifi.

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I know there's a bunch of

green juices out there.

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Uh, ag.

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One is a very popular one.

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And, uh, personally I have tried it.

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I do like AIG.

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Uh, Organifi is just a

personal preference for me.

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But with the Organifi green juice, I

actually add a little bit of a powder

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blend from, I think it's Nate TIVA.

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is the brand.

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And literally it's camu, camu, Berry.

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And a Serola cherry and

there's something else.

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I can't remember the third item in there,

but common, common Berry is the highest.

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Uh, content of vitamin C in

any food that we know of.

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So it is loaded with vitamin C.

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So I'll throw a pretty hefty scoop of

that powder as well with the green juice.

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And personally, I kind of like the tart

flavor that it adds to the green juice.

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Um, To me, a lot of green juices are on

a little bit of the sweeter side, which

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I get, they want it to be, you know,

Appeal to the masses, but I like to cut

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it with a little bit of the tartness.

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So I'll throw that in there as well.

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And then last but not least, this is

the one thing I take all the time.

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Every single day and that's spirulina.

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So I kind of switched between

spirulina and chlorella.

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Um, just kinda depending on how I'm

feeling, but, uh, spirulina is the one

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that I've been taking here recently.

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And if you're unfamiliar with

spirulina, it is a micro algae.

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And if you want to hear more

about it, I have three episodes

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with Catherine Arnstein, she's

the founder of energy bits.

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It's my personal favorite brand

of spirulina and chlorella.

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Absolutely highest quality

I've personally found.

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And I'm not going to get like

super into it, but it has over

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40 plus vitamins and minerals.

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It's super good for your mitochondria.

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It helps detoxify, uh, your blood

from heavy metals and mycotoxins

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like, does so many things.

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You really get a huge ROI when it

comes to spirulina and chlorella.

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So those are the current supplements

that I'm taking at the moment.

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So that's, claustrum the green

juice with adding the native

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as little powder in there.

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Uh, the CIN biotic from ritual

and then last but not least

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the spirulina from energy bits.

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I do have some discount codes for

the products that I just mentioned.

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I'll have them in the show notes.

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If you want to try some of those out.

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Like claustrum, I do have a

10% discount code on that one.

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And then for Organifi and for energy

bits, I have a 20% discount code.

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So go ahead and check those out.

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I mean, it is the time of year where

we're struggling with our immunity.

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So keeping it bolstered

is going to be key.

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So remember.

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All of these supplements are amazing.

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And yes, I do see a lot of benefit with

them, but it always starts with lifestyle.

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Right.

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So we got to make sure we're getting

good sleep, eating good food, staying

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hydrated, moving our body exercising.

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Right.

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That's absolutely key.

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I forgot to add that in there.

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Uh, but those are the things that

we really want to focus on first.

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And then the supplements are a

great way of really just making

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sure we're doing all that we can to

really bolster that immune system.

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So.

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Definitely take care of

yourselves out there.

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Enjoy your time with your families.

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Have a great time eat some

good food and just enjoy.

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Right.

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We've got to focus on that.

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Community.

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Community is so important, so special.

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It is one of the key factors in

longevity that we are coming to

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find is having a good community.

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So really take this time, be

grateful for the community that you

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do have and just enjoy the time.

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Now.

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Let's go ahead and jump in to

today's topic, which is all about.

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Movember.

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Right.

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So, uh, for November, one of the

focuses, I guess, is on men's

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health, which is really cool.

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I think that's awesome that, you

know, there's a time dedicated.

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I feel like there's a time or a day

or a month or something dedicated

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to pretty much everything nowadays.

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But, uh, nonetheless, I think

men's health is something that has.

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Really been kind of, uh, going, I

don't know, it's, it's been on a

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slippery slope, in my opinion, like it

just not getting, uh, maybe the right

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tools or being addressed properly.

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Uh, and you know, we see this in a

lot of the statistics we see that,

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you know, men are like four times more

likely to commit suicide than women.

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Uh, there was a study done, I believe

in:

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know, here in the U S I believe

it's one in every three people.

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If I'm not mistaken, Claim to experience

loneliness on a regular basis, right?

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Like these are these really sad

statistics, but they're also,

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in my opinion, very solvable.

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Uh, there's a lot of

things we can do right now.

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And of course, we're not going to

a hundred percent eradicate like

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suicide and loneliness, of course not.

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But I do think there are some really

very simple tools that we can.

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Start using and, you know, lifestyle

changes that we can implement literally

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today, right after this episode.

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And can have a really profound

effect for not only the men in your

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lives, or if you are a man, but

also for just everyone in your life.

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Right?

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Like if you show up better,

everyone around you is just

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going to have a better time.

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They're probably going

to end up showing better.

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You know, it's like a ripple effect.

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It's going to really spread

out and help everyone.

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So I'm really excited to

talk on this topic today.

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And, uh, I think it's really important

for us to first look at why are we

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having these issues with men in society?

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Well, in my personal opinion, of course,

there's going to be a ton of factors and

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you know, it's not just black and white.

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But I think there are really two

things that play a huge role in why.

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We have, I guess what I would

call unhealthy men and the reason.

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In my opinion that we have unhealthy

men starts off with really not

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having a clearly defined, um, Idea

of what it means to be a healthy man.

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Of course, when you're growing up,

there's a lot of implied things that,

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uh, um, probably your, your dad or, uh,

adults, or even, you know, just peers

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would have naturally put upon you.

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Like.

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Oh, you know, boys, aren't

supposed to cry boys.

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Aren't supposed to show emotion.

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You're supposed to be a provider

and, you know, Put put all the

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weight on your shoulders and you

know, this, that, this, that right.

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Not to say that some of

those things aren't good.

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Right.

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But it's all in context, right?

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Like we have to.

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Find out what it is.

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That's truly healthy about

those, um, stereotypes, I guess.

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About, uh, men or masculinity and.

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I think it's really crazy that we

don't have, or maybe you did, maybe

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you did have some awesome parents

that, you know, really defined what a

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healthy man is supposed to be for you.

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And that's awesome.

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But I think.

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It really does depend

on each person, right?

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Like what makes you a healthy man?

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Right.

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Because that is going to be

different from person to person.

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It's not always going to

be the same answers, right?

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Like there's not just a complete set list

of what it means to be a healthy man.

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Of course, there's probably some.

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Basic things that most people would

agree on, but I think it's important

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for us to actually define for ourselves.

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What does it mean for

you to be a healthy man?

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Like what does the version of you

that is the absolute healthiest

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male version of yourself possible?

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Like what does that look like?

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What kind of traits does that person have?

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You know, how do they show up

and all of that kind of stuff.

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So, That's my personal opinion is first

off, we don't have it clearly defined.

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It's just kind of implied

throughout growing up about

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what it means to be a man.

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And I think with that ambiguity there.

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You know, it leaves a lot

of room for interpretation.

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And a lot of the times we never

actually sit down with that question

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in mind and actually figure it out.

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So I think it's very important

for us to really start there.

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And then the second thing is going to

be kind of a lack of resources or tools.

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I think, you know, there's.

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We know of a lot of tools and

resources out there, but it's not

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communicated well to the men out there.

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And, uh, you know, there's

also some resistance.

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I think there's kind of like, Preconceived

ideas about like, you know, if you, if

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you really do stick to the idea that,

you know, men are supposed to like, not

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show their emotions and this and that.

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Well, It's going to be hard to, for

example, like get them to go to a men's

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group or to open up or whatever it may be.

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But nonetheless, I think we really need

to do a better job on spreading the

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information of the tools that are out

there for men to, uh, primarily focus

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on their mental and emotional health.

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Right?

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Like.

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That's really kind of the main focus here.

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Uh, physical health is

important, but I think for.

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Men.

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One of the big issues we're we're

seeing here is specifically with

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mental and emotional health.

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So, those are kind of the two.

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Major things, in my opinion.

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That are leading to kind of, uh, you

know, these generations of unhealthy men.

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So how do we fix this?

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Well, very simple.

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Not really, uh, it does take some

work, but I do have some simple tools

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and ideas for you to think about.

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And, um, you know, some practices

that you can kind of start

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putting into your life right now.

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So let's go ahead and

start tackling those.

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So once again, first and

foremost, you needed to find what

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it means to be a healthy man.

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No, one's going to define it for you.

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So it's the same thing

with like boundaries.

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If you don't set boundaries for

yourself and respect your own

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boundaries, no one else is going to

respect those boundaries for you.

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So you need to.

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Define what it means to be a healthy man.

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Think of the best version of yourself

and what kind of traits does that

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person have and how do they show up?

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Every single day.

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Right?

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Like, if we just think of.

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An unhealthy man, like let's just take

the most stereotypical, like unhealthy

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man that you can possibly think of.

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You know, we have someone who is

maybe, um, you know, a drunk, like

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really gives into their vices, right?

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Like they drink or abuse other

substances, whatever it may be.

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Um, you know, they're not emotionally.

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Uh, controlled.

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They're very explosive and, uh,

likely physical and verbally

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and emotionally abusive.

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And, uh, you know, really, they don't

know how to process their emotions and.

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Really just kind of take

it out on everyone else.

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They just kind of feel like the

weight of the world is on their

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shoulders and you know, no one is

there to help them and you know,

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kind of that whole stereotype, right?

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Like that to me is.

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In my opinion, a very unhealthy man.

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So, what would it look like to be.

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The opposite of that, right.

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A healthy man.

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So just to give you a couple examples

of things that I believe are, you

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know, what would make me a healthy

manner and things that I strive to do.

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And so the first one is

to respond and not react.

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That's a really huge one.

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Uh, I see a lot of people who.

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Especially with guys.

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Uh, you know, if you say something.

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Uh, especially guy to guy, if you say

something to them the wrong way, and

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it just really rubs them the wrong way.

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Well, who knows, you know, it could get

very verbal, it could get even physical.

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And, uh, I think a lot of that is

totally avoidable, you know, I think.

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A lot of times people are just, uh, you

know, they, they, they don't take a moment

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to process what the person is saying.

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Uh, you know, they say.

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Between a stimulus and the

response there is this.

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Short amount of time,

but there is time, right?

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Like you could take time to think

about how you want to respond.

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You don't always just have to react off of

the first thought that comes to your head.

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Very likely that very first thought

that does pop in your head is

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not the best thought to act upon.

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Right.

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If you just gave it a little bit

more time and sit with what this

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person is saying, maybe they.

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They said something to you.

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In the wrong way, but they

didn't mean it that way.

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You know, there's so many

different ways of looking at this.

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And so I think it's very important for

us to not just, you know, Jump to jump

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the gun and react on the very first

thought and emotion that pops into

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our head, but rather to sit with that

thought and to process it and choose

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our response and not just react, right?

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Like having control.

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Like a healthy control of our emotions.

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Right.

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Um, making sure that we're

choosing how we respond.

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In my opinion, that's a

very healthy thing to do.

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Being able to choose how you

want to, uh, you know, respond

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to people is going to really help

on how you show up in the world.

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And.

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Uh, it, it's also going to help out

with a lot of relationships and,

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and a bunch of different things.

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So that's going to be the first one.

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Is going to be choose how you

respond and not just react.

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Uh, the next thing is going to be

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someone who is emotionally aware, right?

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So this is a huge topic and there's a

lot of different routes to go with this.

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But being emotionally aware

essentially means that you're aware

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of your own emotions, as well as

the emotions of people around you.

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So.

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How often do you really actually tap

in with yourself and see how you feel?

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Personally, um, it's something

I have to actively do.

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I have to remind myself about it

because I won't just normally do this.

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. So.

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You know, throughout the day you can be

going through a lot of hardship or just,

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you know, Unfavorable like circumstances

in life, whether it's like getting

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yelled at, by someone at work or, um,

you know, getting cut off in traffic

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and having some road rage, or maybe

it's an argument with your spouse or.

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Fill in the blank.

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:

There's a million different

things, whatever it may be.

371

:

A lot of the times, This is

just what I see with guys.

372

:

And I see it with myself

and what kind of just like.

373

:

Put that stuff to the side,

almost like, okay, that happened.

374

:

Well, you know, it'll,

it'll work itself out.

375

:

Like I'll, I'll forget about it.

376

:

Eventually.

377

:

I'm just going to continue on with my day.

378

:

But a lot of the times that kind of still

is affecting our mood in the background.

379

:

And then we start showing up as a

jerk to everybody else, even if it's

380

:

just by, you know, kind of being short

with people or whatever it may be.

381

:

It's these things that happen

throughout the day, they are

382

:

still having an effect on us.

383

:

And if you can't recognize the things

that are causing your mood, then you're

384

:

going to continue to stay in that mood.

385

:

Right?

386

:

Like maybe those things will dissipate

over time, but it might take a really

387

:

long time for you to get out of that

really crappy mood that you're in.

388

:

So.

389

:

It's very important for us to recognize

if we're going through something.

390

:

So if you're able to pretty much daily,

just do at least a quick check in with

391

:

yourself and just see like, How are

you, how are you feeling emotionally?

392

:

Like literally tapping with that.

393

:

And I know that's a weird thing for guys

to do sometimes to ask yourself, like,

394

:

How do I emotionally feel right now?

395

:

But.

396

:

Trust me, it is super beneficial to

just take a moment and see like, oh,

397

:

did that argument really affect me?

398

:

, is it still bothering me?

399

:

Do I still get super heated?

400

:

When I think about it?

401

:

And, uh, you know, that if it does,

if it still gets you really angry,

402

:

then it probably still has an

emotional, uh, attachment to you.

403

:

And so being able to, you know,

kind of think through it, maybe

404

:

even talk through it with someone

is going to be really beneficial.

405

:

Uh, not only for yourself,

but for everybody else.

406

:

Cause you're going to show up better.

407

:

And then the other part of

emotional awareness is also being

408

:

aware of everyone else's emotions.

409

:

Right?

410

:

So.

411

:

If you see someone that's

in a bad mood, right?

412

:

Like you can pick up on that.

413

:

And then understand that this

person is not in a good mood

414

:

and then you can choose how, you

know, you kind of respond to them.

415

:

You know how you interact with

them and you can avoid a lot of.

416

:

Confrontations and.

417

:

You know, just.

418

:

Bad conversations, essentially, if

you just take into consideration the

419

:

people's emotional states around you.

420

:

So being emotionally aware is another

really big thing that I like to focus on.

421

:

And I think it's super

important for us as men.

422

:

So, those are a couple things.

423

:

If you want, go ahead and

pull out a pen and paper.

424

:

If you're obviously not driving or doing

something that you need to be focused on.

425

:

Uh, then go ahead and write down

like three to five things of what

426

:

defines a healthy man for you.

427

:

Like what would be the best healthy.

428

:

Version of yourself as a man.

429

:

And then go ahead and

write those things down.

430

:

And, uh, you can feel free to

pause this episode to do that.

431

:

Uh, but then the next thing is going

to be, to find a men's group now.

432

:

I know there's a lot of you out there that

are probably like very resistant to this.

433

:

It wasn't something that

I naturally came to.

434

:

I actually had a really

good friend of mine.

435

:

Bring me to a men's room.

436

:

He was like, no, man, like

come to this, it's worth it.

437

:

And I'm so happy that he did,

uh, because I absolutely love the

438

:

men's groups that I've been to.

439

:

Um, Granted, they're not all going to be.

440

:

The best men's group for you specifically,

like you really do need to find a

441

:

group of men that you feel comfortable

with, that you really vibe with.

442

:

And that you're able to open up

with because that's where a lot

443

:

of the work is going to happen.

444

:

And a lot of the benefit

is going to come from so.

445

:

When you find a good men's group, uh,

personally, a couple of things to look

446

:

for would be once again, make sure you

feel comfortable with those guys, right.

447

:

Feel comfortable to share with them.

448

:

Uh, sometimes a smaller group is

better just cause it's a little

449

:

bit more intimate and personal.

450

:

Uh, but you know, that's going

to be the very first one.

451

:

And then number two, uh, I really

like how the men's group that I go to.

452

:

They really ask us to like, Take a

moment and reflect on the week and kind

453

:

of just think about like, has anything

really triggered you throughout the week?

454

:

Is there something that you're

really struggling with at ways

455

:

like super heavy on your heart?

456

:

And if so, Put a ranking

on it from a one to a five.

457

:

Like where are you sitting with that?

458

:

Are you.

459

:

You know, a one being very lighthearted.

460

:

Like there's not been a

lot of bad stuff this week.

461

:

So you feel great or are you at a five

where it's just like, it's the only

462

:

thing you're thinking about and it is.

463

:

Actually like.

464

:

Absolutely effecting how

you're showing up today.

465

:

So I really like that exercise

because it gives us a moment to

466

:

actually reflect on how we're feeling.

467

:

Things that we're going through,

which is super important.

468

:

And once again, like I said,

we don't often do this, right.

469

:

It's not a common thing for

us to just sit and think like,

470

:

Hm, how am I feeling today?

471

:

But it is super beneficial.

472

:

There's a.

473

:

Ton of benefit to be had in just

that simple practice itself is just

474

:

asking, like, how do you feel today?

475

:

Like, what is it that

you've been going through?

476

:

And by checking in with yourself,

you can get a better read on

477

:

how you're feeling and maybe how

you're showing up in the world.

478

:

Like maybe if you're being a jerk.

479

:

It might be because some other

things have been going on and it's

480

:

good for you to bring awareness

to them so you can work on them.

481

:

So finding a men's group

is super beneficial.

482

:

You'll find people who are going

through similar things that you are

483

:

going through, or maybe they've already

been through the things you're going

484

:

through and they can just provide

a ton of insight and wisdom on it.

485

:

Uh, you know, it's also really cool

because it's a time where it's literally

486

:

dedicated to you opening up and

tapping in with your emotions, which is

487

:

something we don't normally do as guys.

488

:

Usually we're like hanging out, having

a good time with each other, you know,

489

:

maybe, um, I don't know, you go and like

watch a sports game with each other or

490

:

just go kick it, whatever it may be.

491

:

But usually it's not so much dedicated

to you tapping into your feelings

492

:

and talking about something that's

like really been on your mind.

493

:

And if you have a friend that you're

able to do that with, that's amazing,

494

:

like that's, that's golden right there.

495

:

That's literally like

basically a men's group.

496

:

Uh, but nonetheless.

497

:

This men's group is a time for you

to give yourself permission to really

498

:

tap into that side of yourself.

499

:

It's what you're literally there for.

500

:

So it, uh, it kind of takes

that like stigma away.

501

:

Uh, you feel more comfortable in being

vulnerable and sharing with each other?

502

:

Uh, usually it's a very

confidential group, right?

503

:

Like you guys don't share

anything outside of that circle.

504

:

So it's just really great moment

for you to, um, to open up

505

:

and feel comfortable about it.

506

:

So.

507

:

First one is define what it

means to be a healthy man.

508

:

Number two, find a men's group.

509

:

I highly recommend it, or at

least just a good set of friends

510

:

that you can really open up to.

511

:

Uh, and then the third thing is going

to be to do hard things in life.

512

:

And I know that's like

not a fun thing, but.

513

:

You excuse me, you are going to come

across very difficult situations in life.

514

:

And, you know, once again, coming

to this, uh, respond, not react.

515

:

We want to do the hard things

in life so that everything

516

:

else will feel easier, right.

517

:

If you're able to go

through something difficult.

518

:

Then the rest of your day is going to be

a lot smoother and you're going to feel

519

:

a lot more controlled and calm in the way

you show up in literally your entire day.

520

:

So for example, if you wake up

early at five o'clock and go out

521

:

for a run and lift some weights, The

rest of your day is probably gonna

522

:

feel a lot easier because you did

something difficult that day, right?

523

:

Like early on in the morning.

524

:

And that's why I also love ice baths.

525

:

For that reason.

526

:

When you do an ice bath, there's

just nothing fun about that.

527

:

It's, you know, 38 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

528

:

I don't know what that is.

529

:

Maybe like one or two degrees Celsius.

530

:

So like very close to freezing.

531

:

I usually go in there for three minutes.

532

:

It's not fun.

533

:

There's nothing.

534

:

Really enjoyable about it

until you get out of the water.

535

:

Um, but when you do that, It

just sets your day off, right?

536

:

Like you did something.

537

:

Super difficult.

538

:

Uh, not a lot of people actually

are able to do that, or, well, you

539

:

know, they're not able to, will

their mind to do it essentially.

540

:

And so when you do that, like the rest

of your day just feels easy because you

541

:

did something so difficult early on.

542

:

And I think that's very important

for men because you're going to go

543

:

through difficult things in life.

544

:

And it's important for us to

remain calm under that pressure.

545

:

Right.

546

:

And to understand that, you know, there

are times when we might need to hold space

547

:

for other people's emotions and kind of

be the rock for other people right now.

548

:

We need to understand that there's a

shift between being the rock and then

549

:

being able to open up and to vent as well.

550

:

Right.

551

:

Uh, so finding that balance is very

important, but I find that doing hard

552

:

things like forcing ourselves to do

hard things like workout and, you

553

:

know, getting these ice baths and

just literally do difficult things

554

:

really helps us to show up better

because we're now, you know, we're,

555

:

we're used to going through and doing

something difficult and understanding

556

:

that it's always temporary, right.

557

:

There's always going to be a time

where things are going to get easier.

558

:

And then, you know, those are the

times where, um, You know that

559

:

like that could be the men's group.

560

:

Like you're going through something

hard, then you go to the men's group and

561

:

you're able to share and open up and, you

know, take a little bit of that load off.

562

:

Uh, which I think is so important

because there's a ton of guys who

563

:

don't know how to take the load off.

564

:

They know how to pack everything

on their shoulders and really just

565

:

put all the weight on themselves,

which is very admirable, right?

566

:

Like that's awesome that you want to

be that person for everyone around

567

:

you, but you have to understand that

you gotta take care of yourself too.

568

:

And that means you got to.

569

:

You know, be aware of the emotional,

uh, you know, the emotions that

570

:

you're going through and check

in with your mental state.

571

:

It's so, so important.

572

:

So, uh, once again,

We've got to cover that.

573

:

It's.

574

:

Define what it means to be a healthy man.

575

:

Find a men's group and do hard things.

576

:

And then last but not least, this is

the last one I want to leave you with.

577

:

And that is two.

578

:

Do some meditation.

579

:

And so I know there's a

lot of people who are.

580

:

Pretty resilient to meditation.

581

:

I totally get it.

582

:

It's not, you know, does that always

sound like the most fun thing to do?

583

:

But there is a ton of

benefit in meditation.

584

:

And one of the things that meditation

does is it allows you to tap in

585

:

with yourself once again, right.

586

:

When you sit down and just literally

you have zero distractions and

587

:

you're just sitting with yourself.

588

:

This is a moment in time in which a

lot of emotions might start arising.

589

:

And you know, it is a great chance

for us to start processing those

590

:

emotions and understand why it is we're

feeling the way that we're feeling.

591

:

Because it's very easy to stay

distracted throughout our days.

592

:

Even if we're going through some hard

stuff, we have social media, we have TV.

593

:

We have like.

594

:

Countless of different things.

595

:

That we can just occupy our

mind and attention with.

596

:

So when you take all of that away

and you close your eyes and you just

597

:

focus on your breath, That is a great

opportunity for us to start processing

598

:

a lot of those emotions and thoughts.

599

:

And honestly, for me, meditation has

been an absolute, absolute game changer.

600

:

It's one of my favorite things

to do in terms of mental health.

601

:

I always feel a million times

better after meditating.

602

:

And the best thing is you really, if

you want, you can meditate for as long

603

:

as you want, like by all means, but

10 to 15 minutes is adequate to just

604

:

at least happen with yourself and.

605

:

And kind of see how you're feeling.

606

:

So it doesn't take a lot of time.

607

:

It's free.

608

:

You literally need nothing.

609

:

Just sit down and close your eyes.

610

:

Maybe just find a quiet

space and you can meditate.

611

:

So.

612

:

It has been super beneficial

for me personally.

613

:

Uh, I stopped meditating for a while.

614

:

Uh, just kind of had gotten super busy,

so I didn't find time to meditate.

615

:

And then.

616

:

I went ahead and did a, uh, T sit

meditation and it was crazy, uh, was

617

:

processing a lot of stuff and it was

really wild to see, uh, what, you

618

:

know, a long period of time of not

tapping in with myself, looked like.

619

:

When I finally got quiet and just

was able to see how I was feeling

620

:

so highly, highly recommended.

621

:

If you're not a huge fan of

meditation, um, you don't even have

622

:

to think of it as a meditation.

623

:

You can literally just think of it as.

624

:

Quiet time for yourself.

625

:

Um, a moment of presence, right.

626

:

Where you're just sitting down and

becoming aware of the present moment.

627

:

Right.

628

:

So we're trying to not get super caught

up in our thoughts of the future or

629

:

of the past, but rather just really

focusing on the current moment.

630

:

Um, there's so many different kinds of

meditations out there, but literally the

631

:

easiest is sit down, close your eyes.

632

:

Taking some deep breaths and

literally just follow your breath,

633

:

pay attention to your breath.

634

:

If your mind starts wandering,

come back to your breath.

635

:

Just focus on the inhale through

the nose and the exhale, either

636

:

out through the nose or the mouth.

637

:

And just keep your awareness there.

638

:

So those are going to

be my tips for today.

639

:

Um, I hope they're beneficial.

640

:

There are more, but I think

these were some of the, uh, more.

641

:

Impactful ones I would say.

642

:

So once again, I just want to kind of

break down this episode and leave you

643

:

all with some actionable steps here.

644

:

So first off.

645

:

The reason, in my opinion, why we

have unhealthy men is because we don't

646

:

clearly define what a healthy man looks

like to ourselves, because for every

647

:

person it's going to be different.

648

:

And then number two, we either don't

know about the tools and resources or

649

:

we're hesitant to use them, whatever

it may be, uh, but not having these

650

:

tools and resources to properly.

651

:

Process our emotions and our thoughts

and, you know, really tapping with

652

:

ourselves are a major reason in

terms of why we have unhealthy men.

653

:

So the best ways to improve your

mental and emotional health, and

654

:

really just be the best version

of yourself possible as a man.

655

:

Is step one.

656

:

Define what it means to be

a healthy man for yourself.

657

:

And then we want to

hopefully find a men's group.

658

:

Um, you know, another way of putting

this is also just find community, right.

659

:

And, uh, specifically with other guys.

660

:

Uh, I find that.

661

:

It just tends to be.

662

:

A little bit of a, of an easier.

663

:

Uh, space for you when you have other

guys, uh, not to say there isn't benefit

664

:

obviously with, uh, men and women, uh,

speaking and, and having community.

665

:

Uh, but when it comes to processing

the emotions and all that, I

666

:

just really enjoy my men's group.

667

:

Um, but of course, if you know, you

have a community of men and women and

668

:

it totally works for you by all means,

of course, like whatever works for you.

669

:

Just find that community

it's super, super important.

670

:

Uh, for us to tap in and

check in with ourselves.

671

:

Number three.

672

:

I really believe it is important

for us to do hard things.

673

:

Life is going to be hard.

674

:

There's going to be times where

it is difficult and it's important

675

:

that we prepare ourselves

for those difficult times.

676

:

But also understand that those are

temporary and we need to also remember

677

:

that there's a time to be strong and

there's a time to open up and to, you

678

:

know, kind of, uh, let down those guards.

679

:

Right.

680

:

So that we're not always keeping

that bottled up and holding onto it.

681

:

And then the very last thing is

going to be, uh, to find a meditation

682

:

practice or at least a practice

of just tapping in with yourself.

683

:

Right.

684

:

Like checking in and seeing how you're

feeling, checking in with your emotions.

685

:

Like take a few moments,

just get quiet with yourself.

686

:

Close your eyes.

687

:

Really scan the body, see how you feel.

688

:

Uh, see if you have any emotions coming

up and, uh, That to me is literally one of

689

:

the most beneficial practices right there.

690

:

Uh, because it really reveals a

lot about ourselves to ourselves.

691

:

So.

692

:

Those are going to be the steps.

693

:

I really.

694

:

Really, really hope that you found

benefit in this episode today, because

695

:

this is a huge topic and a topic that

really deserves a lot of attention

696

:

and awareness so that we can really.

697

:

Uh, you know, solve this issue

and, and hopefully, uh, at least.

698

:

Not have these terrible

statistics to look at.

699

:

Right.

700

:

So that's the goal with this

episodes are always too.

701

:

Just provide you with information

that you can apply to your life today

702

:

and hopefully improve your health.

703

:

That is the goal with this whole series.

704

:

I just want to break down these

health topics in a way that you can

705

:

literally just take it, plug and

play, implemented it into your life.

706

:

And, uh, hopefully find

some benefit out of it.

707

:

So thank you all so much

for tuning in today.

708

:

I really, really appreciate it.

709

:

Love having you all here.

710

:

Uh, Listening to me, just rant on about

all of these different topics, but,

711

:

uh, I truly do find so much joy in it.

712

:

So thank you all for tuning in.

713

:

Uh, if you haven't already subscribed

to this podcast on whatever platform

714

:

you're on, please go ahead and do so.

715

:

That way you don't miss

any of the episodes.

716

:

Please also leave a rating and a review

on whatever platform you're using.

717

:

If you're on apple podcasts, then please

go ahead and leave a written review.

718

:

I love to read those and just see

what you guys are saying on there.

719

:

Uh, you can always reach out

to me on Instagram as well.

720

:

Uh, please feel free to share this

episode on Instagram and tag me in there.

721

:

Of course.

722

:

pLease go ahead and send this to

a family friend or loved one so we

723

:

can spread the message of this show

and also check out the YouTube page.

724

:

Uh, I do put up a lot of

the interviews on YouTube.

725

:

So you can go ahead and see the

video format of those episodes.

726

:

And I think that's going

to do it for today.

727

:

So, um, I think this is going to

come out before November is over.

728

:

So happy Movember.

729

:

Um, I hope you all are having some

beautiful holidays, stay healthy, keep

730

:

your immune systems, uh, bolstered and

doing well and, uh, just yeah, much

731

:

love and gratitude for all of you.

732

:

I hope you all have a

beautiful rest of your day.

733

:

Uh, see you next Wednesday.

734

:

Peace.

Show artwork for Elemental Evan

About the Podcast

Elemental Evan
Health and Wellness
The Elemental Evan Show, takes an easy and fun approach to health and wellness, making in-depth health topics easy to digest. Focusing on health from an integrative perspective, this show incorporates all areas of health from diets, to relationships, to healthy mentalities. Certified Universal Yoga practitioner and IIN Health Coach, Evan combines holistic health practices with scientific data to bring you fun and interesting episodes. You'll finish each episode feeling empowered to make changes in your life that can both add years to your life and life to your years. Follow along as we cover every health topic you can think of as Evan shows just how connected everything is, both inside your body and in your external environment.

About your host

Profile picture for Evan Roberts

Evan Roberts

Welcome to the Elemental Evan show. My name is Evan Roberts and I'm a certified IIN Health Coach and Yoga Teacher. I love taking a whole approach to health as everything is connected. When you treat one issue in the body, you'll inevitably treat other issues in the body which is why I try to look at things from a big picture perspective. Through this show I'll be bringing you information packed episodes on tangible ways to improve your overall health and wellness. I hope you walk away from each episode feeling empowered and renewed to take on the day and take control of your health!

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen and grow with me.

With Gratitude
-Evan Roberts