Have you ever found yourself saying, ‘Boys don’t cry’ while trying to calm a little boy having a tearful outburst of emotions? For a lot of us, this is our by default thought process that men are not supposed to shed tears. We assume crying as a sign of weakness. In this post, we are talking about emotions that are felt by a man during his day-to-day life which society usually expects him to hide. At the same time, for extreme emotional outbursts, we should surely seek professional help. Below are some reasons why we should not deprive our dear men of crying.

Deal with Emotions Better

Nature has intelligently gifted us with numerous abilities. Our ability to shed tears from eyes is also one of them. This gift is certainly not gender specific. Generally, we cry when we are hurt, physically or emotionally. We also have tears of joy. Our emotions flow through tears. If men are expected to suppress these emotions, imagine how we deliberately and unnaturally have to put extra effort into rerouting the same emotions, which could otherwise have been handled effortlessly by nature. Releasing these emotions through tears is absolutely human and a part of our well-being. Learning about dealing with emotions in the right manner during childhood creates the most effective foundation that is required for us to become better individuals. As adults and caregivers, we can develop a cordial bond with our children so that they can express what overwhelms them, and we can help them deal with these emotions instead of suppressing or judging their emotions.

Minimize Instant Gratification

Men are full of emotions just as women are. Both are designed naturally with their own uniqueness when it comes to the roles and responsibilities they need to play. In today’s world we are continuously developing skills that are not gender specific, allowing ourselves to be more independent. While juggling multiple tasks, at times we get overwhelmed with stress and unhandled emotions, which we might not be comfortable expressing during the moment. It is common for a woman to express such emotions transparently to a person she trusts, while for men this is not a stress-buster they can readily opt for. On top of which, shedding a tear or two might be considered an absolute taboo. As a result, it is likely for men to look for alternatives providing instant gratification through activities involving intoxication and also leading to addictive behaviors. Also, if the same pattern has been going on in the family or surrounding environment, boys might carry forward the same behavior. The point here is to create a safe and acceptable environment where men can express their emotional concerns as freely as others, and we are all supportive of their emotional needs.

Connect Deeply with Others

As we grow, we realize in order to lead a good life, a person needs to achieve a balance between the masculine and feminine qualities within him or her. Both of these qualities have their own unique goodness, enhancing the individual’s personality. For instance, even if the most authoritative man in a room is conscious of his inner nurturing and emotional capabilities, he can connect deeply to a wider range of people around him and create a positive difference. In personal relationships, if we create a safe environment for a man to express his genuine emotions, we can understand his point of view better, instead of expecting him to be the tough guy every time. With this transparency achieved, communications get more meaningful with time, and so do relationships.

It is normal for men to cry. Real men do cry, and it is completely human.