Men want to aim high without feeling insufficient if they fall short.
Men want their suffering to be recognised and appreciated without being pandered to or patronised and made to feel weak.
Men want to believe that they can be more without feeling like they're not enough already.
Men want to be able to open up without being judged.
Men want support without feeling broken.
Men want to be loved for who they are not for what they do.
TLR: Blending inspiration with compassion is not an easy task.
"How do I set lofty goals which drive me to fulfil my potential without feeling less than if I don't get there tomorrow?" ~ every guy ever
The desire for self-love and high performance come into conflict inside the mind of everyone, men especially.
Sure, some men are all drive and goals with no introspection. And sure, some men are all reflection and inner work with few external desires.
But most men desire a mix of encouraged self belief and understanding support. Inevitably, these two things come into conflict.
Basically every man just wants to hear:
"I know you can be more, but you are enough already and even if you just stay where you are, I'll be right here next to you. You're going to be great, but you don't need to be great, and I'm with you no matter what."
Or, as said best by Sturgill Simpson's mum:
"Boy I don't care if you hit it big because you're already number one." — Sturgill Simpson